1981 has been proclaimed as the Inter-national Year of Disabled Persons by the United Nations. Singapore in recognising the importance of this Year, has appointed a National Co-ordinating Committee to formulate, stimulate and co-ordinate plans of action for the Year and ensure that they are carried through.

The guiding principle underlying the plans for the Year is the recognition that disabled persons are an integral part of the society: they should not be set apart from others and both the able bodied and the disabled should toge-ther, work towards creating conditions which will bring about FULL PARTICIPATION AND INTEGRATION of disabled persons in Singapore.

One of the conditions facilitating the above is the existence of equal oppor-tunities for education and training, em-ployment and social and recreational activities. Another condition is the positive attitude of a public who understands the needs and problems of the disabled and is aware of how the disabled can best be assisted to make full use of their capabilities.

Singapore, in concentrating its efforts on the achievement of its objectives for the Year, has not forgotten the contri-bution that can be made and is being made by the disabled persons them-selves. Their involvement in plans for the Year has enriched those who have worked with them, and improved the quality of projects and programmes set out.

A set of four postage stamps in the values of 10¢, 35¢, 50¢ and 75€ will be issued on 24 November 1981 to mark the International Year of Disabled Persons. The respective stamp designs highlight the following themes in the plans of action for disabled persons:-

(i) The Right to Environmental Aids, (ii) The Right to Social Integration, (iii) The Right to Education, and (iv) The Right to Work