Chia Yong Yong

Chia was educated in Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School{{Cite web |last=Migration |date=2013-11-21 |title=Lawyer Chia Yong Yong is undaunted by disability {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/lawyer-chia-yong-yong-is-undaunted-by-disability |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|title = CHIA YONG YONG|url = http://www.yusarn.com/our-people/chia-yong-yong/|website = www.yusarn.com|access-date = 13 September 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151126024831/http://www.yusarn.com/our-people/chia-yong-yong/|archive-date = 26 November 2015|url-status = dead|df = dmy-all}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://learn.asialawnetwork.com/2017/07/24/lawyer-feature-chia-yong-yong-from-chia-yong-yong-law-corporation/|title=Lawyer Feature – Chia Yong Yong from Chia Yong Yong Law Corporation {{!}} Asia Law Network|date=24 July 2017|access-date=2017-07-27}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2019-01-17 |title=Second round of certification course for professional deputies and donees launched {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/second-round-of-certification-course-for-professional-deputies-and-donees-launched |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web|last=Yong|first=Charissa|date=12 August 2014|title=New NMP to make history in Parliament, Top Stories News today - My Paper {{!}} 我报|url=http://mypaper.sg/top-stories/new-nmp-make-history-parliament-20140812|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115631/http://mypaper.sg/top-stories/new-nmp-make-history-parliament-20140812|archive-date=4 March 2016|access-date=|website=}}

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,{{Cite web |title=About The Committee Members |url=https://www.gov.sg/microsites/future-economy/about-us/about-the-committee-members |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903121722/https://www.gov.sg/microsites/future-economy/about-us/about-the-committee-members |archive-date=3 September 2017 |access-date=2017-07-27 |website=www.gov.sg}} steering committee member of the Third Enabling Masterplan.{{Cite news |title=EM3 Final Report |url=https://www.ncss.gov.sg/NCSS/media/NCSS-Documents-and-Forms/EM3-Final_Report_20161219.pdf |access-date=27 July 2017 |archive-date=20 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420032503/https://www.ncss.gov.sg/NCSS/media/NCSS-Documents-and-Forms/EM3-Final_Report_20161219.pdf |url-status=dead }}

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.{{Cite web|title = Singapore Parliament Reports|url = http://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/topic.jsp?currentTopicID=00007174-WA¤tPubID=00007166-WA&topicKey=00007166-WA.00007174-WA_2%252Bid-a7edaf4c-47bc-44c4-99e5-845f15e53b61%252B|access-date = 13 September 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305083400/http://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/topic.jsp?currentTopicID=00007174-WA¤tPubID=00007166-WA&topicKey=00007166-WA.00007174-WA_2%252Bid-a7edaf4c-47bc-44c4-99e5-845f15e53b61%252B|archive-date = 5 March 2016|url-status = dead}}

Chia was reappointed for a second term in March 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/special-select-committee-nominates-9-nmps-for-13th-parliament-8136904|title=Special Select Committee nominates 9 NMPs for 13th Parliament|work=Channel NewsAsia|access-date=2017-07-27|language=en-US}}

She was a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods in 2018.{{Cite news |last=Yuen |first=Sin |date=11 January 2018 |title=Select Committee on fake news named; includes two ministers, WP's Pritam Singh |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/select-committee-on-fake-news-named-includes-two-ministers-wps-pritam-singh |access-date=7 October 2021 |issn=0585-3923}}

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){{Cite web|title = UN DESA {{!}} United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|url = https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/index.html|website = www.un.org|access-date = 13 September 2015}} Forum on Disability and Development,{{Cite web|title = Second DESA Forum on Disability and Development|url = http://undesadspd.org/Home/tabid/40/news/433/Default.aspx|website = undesadspd.org|access-date = 13 September 2015}} 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.

Chia has been President of SPD since 2008.{{Cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/national-education/2663988.html|title=National education campaign needed to raise disability awareness: Chia Yong Yong|last=Ong|first=Justin|date=4 April 2016|website=Channel NewsAsia|access-date=11 April 2016}}

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.{{Cite web|title=Ms Chia Yong Yong|url=https://www.ncss.gov.sg/our-stories/detail-page/ms-chia-yong-yong|access-date=2021-10-18|website=NCSS|language=en}}

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's Advocacy and Research Advisory Panel for one term.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncss.gov.sg/About_NCSS/ncsscommittees.asp |title=NCSS :: About NCSS - NCSS Board Members and Key Personnel - NCSS Committees |access-date=2015-09-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319080047/http://ncss.gov.sg/About_NCSS/ncsscommittees.asp |archive-date=19 March 2015 |df=dmy }} She also served as member of the Prisons Welfare Committee from 1986 to 1987.{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Velda |date=2018-08-23 |title=First wheelchair user in Singapore Parliament: Interview with Chia Yong Yong, lawyer & nominated MP |url=https://digitalsenior.sg/chia-yong-yong-interview/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=Digital Senior |language=en-US}}

Chia is a member of the Zion Bible-Presbyterian Church and formerly sat on its Board of Deacons between April 2007 and 2010. She was then on the board of deacons for Zion Bishan Bible-Presbyterian Church from 2010 till 2013.

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.{{cite news |url= http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/lawyer-chia-yong-yong-is-undaunted-by-disability |author=Lee Siew Hua |date=18 November 2013 |title=Lawyer Chia Yong Yong is undaunted by disability |newspaper=The Straits Times}}

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

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,{{Cite news|last=Tai|first=Janice|date=3 August 2011|title=They brighten lives of those in hospice care|work=The Straits Times}} and the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) in 2013.{{Cite web|title=President Tony Tan Keng Yam presenting Public Service Medal …|url=https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/12a56aac-acc0-11e7-843a-0050568939ad|access-date=2021-10-18|website=www.nas.gov.sg}}

In 2018, she was awarded the Bintang Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Star).{{Cite web|title=Taken at: National Day Investiture 2018 at the Institute of …|url=https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/6ed2eadc-d81d-11eb-a96c-005056a7c0ea|access-date=2021-10-18|website=www.nas.gov.sg}}

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