Mr Aloysius Gan Kai Hong

Aloysius, 17 years old, is a Team Singapore boccia youth para-athlete who has won medals for the nation at international tournaments such as the Bahrain 2021 Asian Youth Para Games and the inaugural World Boccia Youth Championship. Born with cerebral palsy, he is non-verbal and relies on his wheelchair to facilitate his movements.

Aloysius was nominated by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore.

Nicolette, 22 years old, is the co-founder of Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s co-curricular club NP Supportify, which is dedicated to raising awareness and providing social-emotional support to students with disabilities. She has severe hearing loss and has undergone procedures for cochlear implants.

Nicolette was nominated by Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

Shalom, 28 years old, is a disability rights and social inclusion advocate who firmly believes that disability awareness should be taught to children in schools. He was born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and his condition quickly deteriorated in his teenage years, leading to the loss of his writing and painting abilities.

Shalom was nominated by Ms Priscilla Koh Siew Im.

Ismail, 40 years old, is the captain of Team Singapore’s para-tenpin bowling and a member of the Bowling Association of the Disabled (Singapore), who has amassed a total of 29 medals – seven Golds, 12 Silves and 10 Bronzes. He has congenital nystagmus.

Ismail was nominated by the Bowling Association of the Disabled (Singapore).

Yew Kim, better known as Yuki, 29 years old, is the founder of the independent Deaf film team Weirdoooo and a performing artist who is part of ART:DIS’ Beyond Dis:play programme. Born with bilateral profound hearing loss, she strongly advocates for a more inclusive arts scene.

Yuki was nominated by The Singapore Association for the Deaf.

Kimberly, 23 years old, is a youth inclusion advocate who looks to raise awareness on the need for greater disability education and awareness. She is also a Deaf bowler who clinched a Silver in the women’s doubles event at the Deaflympics 2022. 

Kimberly was nominated by Yale-NUS College.

Faaiqah, 22 years old, is a Singapore sign language performing artist and member of the fully Deaf dance crew Redeafination. Having profound hearing loss, she was also the first Deaf student who pursued a Diploma in Arts & Theatre Management in Republic Polytechnic.

Faaiqah was nominated by Equal Dreams.

Sophie, 26 years old, is a Team Singapore para-swimmer, who has represented the nation at major sporting events such as the 2015 ASEAN Para Games and 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, and an advocate for Guide Dogs Singapore. Having cone rod dystrophy, which results in progressive vision loss, she is among the very few people in Singapore who relies on a guide dog as an assistance option.

Sophie was nominated by Singapore Disability Sports Council.

Filmer, 22 years old, is the founder of local home-based business Filmer’s Chiffon Cakes and a performing artist-in-training with ART:DIS. He has pilocytic astrocytoma, a rare tumour that covered half his brain, and suffered a stroke after his first emergency procedure, which resulted in left-side paralysis.

Filmer was nominated by Rainbow Centre, Singapore.

Jiaying, 33 years old, is a co-founding member of Diverse Abilities Dance Crew and a performing artist with the Maya Dance Theatre. Born with down syndrome, her dance journey began as a student at Katong Special School and she has since performed extensively on both local and international stages.

Jiaying was nominated by the Maya Dance Theatre.