Building Spaces Where Everyone Belongs
We started Pestinellia because we kept seeing the same problem. Most leisure programs claim to be "accessible" but still treat disability as something to work around rather than part of the natural diversity of human experience. We wanted to do better than that.
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What Actually Drives Our Work
Back in 2018, one of our founders was trying to help a friend find adaptive sports programs in Singapore. The options were either medical-feeling therapy sessions or overly simplified activities that felt patronizing. Nothing existed in between — just regular activities where everyone could participate on equal footing.
Learning from Real Experience
We spent the first year just listening. Talking to people with different disabilities, their families, support workers. What we heard was consistent: people wanted activities they'd genuinely enjoy, not activities designed "for disabled people." The distinction matters more than most organizations realize.
Our approach changed completely when a participant told us: "Stop asking what accommodations I need and start asking what I want to do. Then we can figure out the logistics together."
That conversation shifted everything. We stopped designing programs around disability categories and started designing around actual interests — cooking, art, outdoor adventures, technology, music. Then we work with each person to figure out what support makes participation possible for them specifically.
Where We Are Now
Six years later, we run ongoing programs across Singapore. Our participants range from teenagers to retirees, with varying mobility, sensory, cognitive, and communication differences. What they have in common is they want to try new things and connect with others who share their interests.
How We Think About Inclusion
Inclusion isn't about special treatment or separate spaces. It's about removing the barriers that prevent people from participating in activities they find interesting. Sometimes that's physical access issues. Sometimes it's communication formats. Often it's just assumptions about what people can or want to do.
Person-First Planning
We start every program by understanding individual interests and preferences. The disability comes second — it informs how we provide support, not what activities we offer.
Flexible Support Models
Some people need consistent one-on-one support. Others prefer group settings with available assistance when needed. We adapt our staffing and structure to match participant preferences rather than enforcing a single model.
Community Integration
Most of our activities happen in regular community spaces — parks, studios, makerspaces. We believe in adapting existing environments rather than creating separate "accessible" versions that isolate participants from broader community life.
Ongoing Feedback Loops
Programs evolve based on participant input. We check in regularly about what's working and what isn't. If something feels wrong to the people experiencing it, we change it — regardless of what our original plan was.
This isn't complicated philosophy. It's treating people as the experts on their own lives and building programs that respect that expertise.
Desmond Whitford
Community Engagement Coordinator
Desmond works closely with families and participants to understand individual preferences and ensure activities genuinely reflect what people want to experience rather than what we assume they need.
How People Usually Connect with Us
There's no formal intake process or waitlist. People reach out when they're curious, we have conversations about interests and needs, and things develop from there. Here's roughly how it tends to unfold.
Initial Contact
Most people start by emailing or calling with questions about specific programs. We usually schedule a casual conversation — either in person or video call — to understand what you're looking for and explain how our programs work.
Trial Participation
We invite people to try one or two sessions of programs that match their interests. No commitment required. This gives everyone a chance to see if the fit feels right before making ongoing plans.
Ongoing Involvement
If things work well, we develop a regular participation schedule. This might mean weekly activities, monthly events, or whatever rhythm makes sense. We stay flexible as interests and circumstances change.
