Ahead of BEACON 2026, Yee Kok Meng of MINDS shares how technology can remove barriers for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PWIDs), and why people must stay at the heart of service delivery in the social sector.
MINDS journeys alongside PWIDs and their families. Its work spans every stage of life, from education and skills training to lifelong learning, residential services and caregiver support.
We spoke to Yee Kok Meng, Director of Strategic Development / Digital Development & Technology Integration at MINDS, about what technology can do for the people MINDS serves. He will speak on MINDS' geolocation data usage at BEACON 2026, so do join us there! Sign up here.
PWIDs are Individuals First
The first thing Kok Meng wants people to understand is simple. "PWIDs are individuals first, each with their own aspirations, preferences, interests, needs, strengths and potential. PWIDs should not be defined by their disabilities."
MINDS' mission is to enhance the quality of lives of PWIDs and their caregivers. It aims to enable every PWID to live a meaningful life with dignity, independence and a sense of belonging within the community.
One common misconception, he says, is that PWIDs cannot learn new skills, make decisions or contribute meaningfully to society. "In reality, given the right opportunities, appropriate support and an inclusive environment, many can achieve far more than people expect."
He suggests a different question. "Rather than asking 'Can this PWID do it?', we should be asking 'What can we change in our community, systems and support structures to help him succeed?'"
This is where technology comes in. "Technology is not about changing who the person is, but about helping to remove barriers, enhance communication and create new opportunities for participation, learning and employment", he says.
SportTogether: Tech-for-Good Providing Independence and Support
For PWIDs, everyday activities that many of us take for granted may need extra support. These include communicating their needs, navigating unfamiliar environments and joining community activities. Assistive technology can help them participate more independently.
Kok Meng points to SportTogether, an inclusive mobile app developed by polytechnic students at Dell InnovateFest, an annual hackathon organised with Dell Technologies. The app supports PWIDs in joining community sports activities organised by MINDS volunteers. Features such as GPS tracking and real-time notifications to caregivers address safety concerns, while helping PWIDs engage more confidently in community life.
"The key lies in finding the right balance between independence and reassurance," he says. Without the right support, families may feel they need to supervise every activity closely. "With thoughtfully designed technology, PWIDs can participate more actively while caregivers gain greater peace of mind."
For Kok Meng, this is what makes technology matter. When solutions are designed around the needs, experiences and aspirations of PWIDs and their caregivers, they can remove barriers, foster greater inclusion and make a tangible difference to daily life.
AI Augments Social Work, not Replace
"AI presents exciting opportunities for the social service sector," Kok Meng says. At MINDS, potential uses include reducing administrative work for staff, improving access to information, developing personalised learning resources, and spotting trends in service needs to inform better support planning. For example, AI can generate simplified reading materials or visual learning aids tailored to an individual's learning needs, with educators reviewing and refining the content.
He is equally clear about the limits. "PWIDs are not a homogeneous group. What works for one individual may not work for another, and AI may not always understand the nuances of a person's circumstances, emotions or lived experiences."
There are also important questions of data security, privacy, consent and responsible use. MINDS' approach is to begin with a genuine service need, involve the people who will use the solution, test carefully, and evaluate whether it meaningfully improves outcomes and quality of life.
"Ultimately, AI should augment, not replace the expertise, empathy and professional judgement of our staff. Human relationships, trust and accountability must remain at the heart of service delivery. Success should not be measured by how much AI we adopt, but by whether it enables us to better support the community we serve."
Where Can Technology Help Next?
Looking ahead, Kok Meng sees four areas where technology could make a meaningful difference.
Independence in daily living. Accessible apps, visual prompts, communication aids and personalised digital learning tools can help PWIDs make informed choices, learn new routines, build skills and take part more confidently in everyday activities.
Support for caregivers. Families often juggle multiple services, plan for the future and balance caregiving with their own well-being. With the right safeguards, technology can make information easier to find, streamline service coordination and connect families with support earlier.
Inclusive employment. Digital tools can break workplace tasks into manageable steps, give timely prompts, improve accessibility and ease communication between employees and supervisors, so more PWIDs can contribute their skills with confidence.
Ageing and future care. As PWIDs and their caregivers grow older, families face complex decisions about long-term care, independent living and continuity of support. Technology can help coordinate information, services and care planning, while assistive solutions can support safer, more independent and dignified ageing.
But he cautions against overlooking the digital divide. Devices, connectivity and accessible software are only part of the solution. Individuals and families also need digital skills training, ongoing support and solutions designed around their abilities and lived experiences. "Technology must remain accessible, affordable and practical so that its benefits are available to all, not just those who are already comfortable using it."
Within MINDS, technology can also give staff more time for the work that matters. Digital tools and appropriate automation can streamline admin and information sharing, freeing staff to build relationships and support PWIDs and their families. Integrated systems and meaningful use of data can help MINDS spot emerging needs and service gaps, and look beyond outputs to whether individuals are becoming more independent, caregivers are better supported and inclusion is improving.
Kok Meng notes that getting there takes more than technology. It requires investment in digital capabilities, staff training, data governance, cybersecurity and partnerships. PWIDs and their caregivers must also have a voice in designing, implementing and evaluating the solutions meant to support them.
What does "Connecting the Dots"mean to MINDS?
To Kok Meng, "connecting the dots" means bringing together people, technology, expertise and resources across the community, corporate and public sectors "to address challenges that no single organisation can solve alone."
In the social service sector, those dots include PWIDs, their families and caregivers, social service professionals, technology companies, researchers, institutes of higher learning, volunteers, community partners, fellow social service agencies and government agencies. Each brings its own perspective and strengths. "The real value emerges when we connect these perspectives early and work together to design solutions centred on real human needs."
SportTogether shows how this works. Through MINDS' partnership with Dell Technologies, students apply their technical skills to real-world needs, drawing on MINDS' insights into PWIDs. The result is a solution that helps PWIDs take part in sports and fosters more inclusive community engagement.
"#techforgood is about ensuring that innovation reaches the people who need it most and can benefit from it. It is not technology for technology's sake."
Hear More at BEACON 2026
Catch Kok Meng's session on MINDS' geolocation data usage on the Main Stage at BEACON 2026 on Saturday, 14 November 2026 at Marina One Auditorium. Tickets here.