Pro Bono SG and Rao Family Foundation Launch Singapore’s First Legal Centre for Individuals with Invisible Disabilities
SINGAPORE, 16 March 2026 – Pro Bono SG (PBSG), a registered charity dedicated to enabling access to justice for Singapore’s marginalised communities, and Rao Family Foundation, a Singapore-based grant-maker partnering with changemakers to solve social challenges, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to launch the Inclusive Justice Law Centre, Singapore’s first dedicated legal centre for individuals with invisible disabilities.
The Rao Family Foundation will commit to funding more than $700,000 over two years to cover manpower costs, a Legal Support Fund, as well as training and workshops by the PBSG Training Academy. Under this partnership, the Inclusive Justice Law Centre aims to provide holistic legal awareness, guidance, and representation tailored to individuals with invisible disabilities and their caregivers.
The MOU signing was witnessed by Guest of Honour Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Social and Family Development. SPS Mr Eric Chua is also the co-chair of the Inclusive Justice Taskforce. The agreement was signed by Mr Dinesh Dhillon, Chairman of PBSG, and Mr Jimmy Budiarto Rao, Chairman of the Rao Family Foundation.
Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Social and Family Development, said, “Persons with invisible disabilities face unique challenges in their daily lives which may be magnified when they interact with the justice system. MinLaw welcomes the establishment of the Inclusive Justice Law Centre by Pro Bono SG to provide dedicated support to such individuals. This initiative by Pro Bono SG complements MinLaw’s mission to advance access to justice to all. It is also aligned with the ongoing work of the Inclusive Justice Taskforce, which was launched in January 2026, and is considering ways to better support those with mental health conditions and disabilities who interact with the criminal justice system.”
Addressing a Critical Gap in Access to Justice
Recognising that individuals with invisible disabilities, as well as their caregivers often face barriers in accessing legal support, the partnership seeks to bridge this critical gap and empower these individuals to seek timely and appropriate legal support.
The Inclusive Justice Law Centre will be anchored by a full-time Singapore-qualified community lawyer who will specialise in advising and providing legal assistance to individuals with invisible disabilities. To strengthen the pro bono ecosystem, the community lawyer will also train and expand the volunteer pool, equipping volunteers with specialised knowledge and skills to support this community.
The Inclusive Justice Law Centre will also host curated workshops, as well as seminars and webinars focused on legal literacy and protection, designed with a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by individuals with invisible disabilities, such as decision-making, communication, and self-advocacy. These initiatives also aim to address caregivers’ concerns around future planning, financial security and caregiving responsibilities.
Beyond legal support, the partnership aims to better support individuals with invisible disabilities and their caregivers by driving strategic research to strengthen broader access-to-justice efforts with key stakeholders across the legal and social service sectors.
Mr Dinesh Dhillon, Chairman of Pro Bono SG, said, “In our work, we have seen that access to justice is not only about having legal rights – it is about being able to understand and navigate the system. The Inclusive Justice Law Centre reflects our commitment to ensuring that individuals with invisible disabilities are seen, heard and supported throughout the legal process. Beyond assisting individual cases, we aim to build dedicated expertise and strengthen partnerships across the legal, social service and philanthropic sectors. Over time, our goal is to help shape a system that is more responsive, so that justice becomes truly accessible in practice.”
A Natural Extension of Rao Family Foundation’s Advocacy
The launch of the Inclusive Justice Law Centre represents the Rao Family Foundation’s commitment to extending inclusion beyond awareness to encompass equitable access to justice and legal protection. It marks a significant milestone in strengthening Singapore’s legal and social support framework and highlights a collective commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of individuals with invisible disabilities and supporting the long-term security and well-being of the families who care for them.
Mr James Zou, Director at the Rao Family Foundation, said, “The Rao Family Foundation believes that a truly just society cannot exist when significant segments of our community remain unseen. To us, inclusivity means being intersectional, all-encompassing, and exhaustive. We are proud to support Pro Bono SG’s deliberate commitment to creating equity through legal support, advocacy, and systemic reform through the set-up of the Inclusive Justice Law Centre. We are confident this initiative will help ensure that everyone, regardless of whether their disability is visible, has meaningful access to justice and opportunity.”