Walk of a Lifetime 2025

Mr Choy Siew Kai, Mr Lee Chew Chiat, Mr Bernard Chew,

VIPs, Guests, donors, partners and friends from St Andrew’s Autism Centre

Dedicated staff, volunteers and participants of the walk,

1. A very good morning to all of you. Thank you for joining us today. It’s such a wonderful day.

   1. Your presence here speaks volumes about the importance we place on greater awareness and understanding of autism in the community.

   2. As we walk together as one community, this is really what we mean by a “We-first” society – where everybody is valued and can be part of that wider society.

   3. A society where inclusion is woven into the fabric of what we do, the lives that we live, the values that we live by, and the habits that we care and practise.

2. I want to talk to you today about three important issues: understanding, acceptance, and inclusion.

3. Let me first start by talking about understanding.

   1. It is important for us to understand people with autism – the experiences that they go through, the world that they see, and the differences that they may experience.

   2. What might seem unusual at first, is often their way of navigating their lives.

   3. But it's important for all of us to take time to understand and learn what autism is all about, and to replace misconception with empathy.

   4. And more importantly, to see people beyond labels.

4. My next point is that of acceptance.

   1. All of us should accept, and that goes beyond tolerance – it means to appreciate and celebrate the differences that we may have.

   2. While they might face unique challenges, we must embrace them for who they are.

5. And third, inclusion – and dare I say, celebration.

   1. It’s important to transform our understanding and acceptance into meaningful action. The theme here today states: we should “Walk with Me [and] Know My Story”, which captures this very beautifully.

   2. We must understand what people with autism are going through, accept, understand and celebrate them as one united family.

6. Let me share one particular story.

   1. Gajandran Sundralingam is one of the five people featured in this year’s Walk.

   2. Like many of us, he enjoys exploring the world and taking in new sights.

   3. But for him, venturing out independently presents real challenges – processing busy environments and navigating roads safely requires strategies and support that most of us never have to consider.

   4. SAAC staff, however, saw Gajandran beyond his challenges.

   5. With patience, understanding and love, they took time to learn how he experiences the world.

   6. With genuine acceptance, they embraced the unique way in which he observed the world; they worked with him, not against his natural instincts.

   7. And through this thoughtful inclusion, they equipped him with the tools and strategies to navigate the world confidently on his own terms.

7. Now these are the principles our government is committed to when we say we want to create a “We-first” society – one where no one is left behind.

   1. Let us continue this walk together as we walk for a “We-first” society, and let's strengthen this partnership between government, SAAC, and all of you.

8. Thank you very much. And have a wonderful walk ahead.