Chia Yong Yong

Education

Chia Yong Yong was educated in Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School between 1969 and 1978 and later attended Catholic Junior College from 1979 to 1980. Following her A-Levels, she completed a Bachelor of Laws degree with Honours at the National University of Singapore in 1985, and was admitted to the Singapore Bar as an advocate and solicitor in 1986.

Legal career

Chia is a corporate lawyer in Singapore. In 2017, she started her own law firm, Chia Yong Yong Law Corporation. In media interviews, Chia expressed her passion for her work and overcoming challenges to conclude business deals.

Chia actively gives talks on commercial law issues, and is also a member of the Council of the Law Society's panel of approved Mediators and Investigative Tribunal.

Nominated Member of Parliament

In August 2014, Chia was one of 9 individuals selected out of 36 candidates by a parliamentary committee to take on the role of Nominated members of parliament in Singapore. She is the first wheelchair user who has a seat in Singapore Parliament.

In Parliament, Chia has spoken frequently on issues concerning disability welfare, including the MediShield Life Scheme Bill and on the proposed changes to the CPF scheme during the Budget 2015 Debate.

She was reappointed for a second term in March 2016.

Public service

Chia was a member of the steering committee of Our Singapore Conversation in 2013, a steering committee member and work group member of the Committee on the Future Economy, steering committee member of the Third Enabling Masterplan.

In June 2015, Chia was involved as a member of the Singapore Government's delegation to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Conference of the State Parties, serving as speaker at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Forum on Disability and Development, jointly organised by the UNDESA and the Republic of Singapore, and as moderator at the forum "Women with Disabilities", organised by the Republic of Korea.

Community Work

Chia has been President of SPD (formerly known as The Society of the Physically Disabled) since 2008. SPD is a voluntary welfare organisation specialising in providing therapy and other professional services, employment and social service support to persons with disabilities with the ultimate goal of integrating them into mainstream society.

Chia has served since 1995 as the legal advisor and company secretary of Very Special Arts Ltd, a charity organisation launched in September 1993 to provide persons with disabilities with opportunities to access the arts for rehabilitation and social integration.

She has been board member of SG Enable since 2014, and was also a member of the REACH Supervisory Panel from 2012 to 2016, and member of National Council of Social Service' ("NCSS") Advocacy and Research Advisory Panel for one term. She also served as member of the Prisons Welfare Committee from 1986 to 1987.

Religious activity

Chia is a member of the Zion Bible-Presbyterian Church and formerly sat on its Board of Deacons between April 2007 and May 2013.

Personal life

Chia was diagnosed with peroneal muscular atrophy when she was 15. She gradually had to depend on crutches, and later wheelchairs, as her muscle tissue progressively weakened. She has not been able to stand for 20 years and her hands have grown limp.

For her work, Chia uses dictation software or dictates notes to her personal assistant.

Achievements

In recognition of her dedication and continued efforts in the public and social services sectors, Chia was awarded the President's Social Service Award (Individual Category) in 2011, and the Public Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Masyarakat) in 2013 by the President of the Republic of Singapore.