From Being Cared for to Caring for Others

Meet Equestrian Paralympian and Caring Commuter Maximillian Tan. Source: Maximillian Tan

Equestrian Paralympian Maximillian Tan is known for his determination. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a young age, he remains undeterred by his condition and continues carrying out his daily routines without assistance. He often commutes to his sport training sessions and physiotherapy appointments via public transport.

“I also do have occasional social meet-ups with friends, where I take public transport to meet them,” Max shares. He prefers using a wheelchair for longer commutes and opts for crutches when the journey is short.

“Using my wheelchair on the MRT is usually quite a breeze. Most commuters know to make space for wheelchair users like me on the MRT,” he says. With crutches, his main challenge is maintaining balance on trains or buses. He is appreciative when commuters offer their seats to him.

During peak hours, Max sometimes finds that there is not enough space or time for him to manoeuvre himself into a seat before the train or bus takes off. To overcome it, he chooses to commute during off-peak hours whenever possible.

Max would take the initiative to give space to other commuters in need. Source: Maximillian Tan

Max has received many caring acts from commuters and he pays it forward by showing care for other commuters as well. He often takes the initiative to ensure that commuters who need the lift have ample space or assist in repositioning the strollers or wheelchairs to make space for other commuters. 

Max hopes the increase in awareness and understanding towards Persons with Disabilities will make our public transport system more inclusive and our journeys more pleasant for all.

Have a story about showing care to another commuter you’d like to share? Submit your own Caring Commuter stories to us via the community wall: www.caringcommuters.gov.sg/community!