Key Points
- Persons with autism experience difficulties with communication and social interaction, sensory stimulation,
and display repetitive behaviour.
- Persons with autism often benefit from therapy and early intervention.
- Those who require child or adult care services may consider inclusive preschools, special student care
centres, or centre-based, residential, and home care services.
- Children with autism can enrol in either SPED schools or mainstream schools, depending on their individual
needs.
- Adults with autism can participate in programmes to prepare themselves for working life.
Here you will find information on social support available for persons with autism, resources and stories of people
on the same journey.
Therapy and intervention
Actions To Take
- Look into early intervention programmes or ad-hoc therapy for children with autism.
- Consult a medical professional on scientifically proven therapy methods before choosing one for your child.
Some behaviours – such as poor eye contact and repetitive behaviour – may be red flags for autism and
warrant further assessment. While autism is a lifelong condition, therapy and intervention can help children with
autism improve their social and communication skills.
Services and programmes
Early Intervention Programme For Infants and Children (EIPIC) is likely the most
known programme for children with special needs. Activities at EIPIC centres aim to maximise the child’s
developmental growth potential while minimising the development of secondary disabilities. Click here for a list of EIPIC centres catering to children with autism.
If your child is not in a programme or school where therapy is already provided, he can
still attend ad-hoc therapy sessions offered by other SSAs or private intervention centres. Adults
can also consider therapy services to overcome challenges they face in independent living, working and socialising.
However, intervention is generally more effective if started at a young age.
There are various schools of thought and approaches to therapy for persons with autism.
Some, like Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), are more widely practised; others, like the use of
hyperbaric chambers, are less so. Others are often considered ineffective by medical professionals. Caregivers are
encouraged to consider mainstream evidence-based forms of therapy, and to seek advice from medical professionals
before starting any form of therapy. More information can be found here.
Other useful information:
Child and adult care
Actions To Take
- Consider day care, residential, or home-based care options which can cater to your various caregiving needs.
- Consider the need to be your child’s court-appointed deputy to make decisions on their behalf if they
lack mental capacity when they reach the legal age of 21.
Day care, residential programmes and other care services are available to support persons with autism. The type of
service needed varies according to an individiual’s needs and the level of support that his caregiver can
provide.
Services and programmes
Caregivers looking for childcare and before/after-school care may consider services such as
the Integrated Child Care Programme (ICCP) for pre-schoolers aged two to six, or Special Student Care Centres
(SSCCs) for students aged seven to 18. More information can be found here.
For youths and adults, care services like Sheltered Workshops and Day Activity Centres
(DACs) provide a safe environment offering therapy and training, as well as full-day supervision. For others,
getting a job
may be a goal to aim for as it is a step towards financial security and participation in society.
Organisations like Autism Association (Singapore) have activity-based programmes that aim to enhance the social integration of persons with
disabilities.
Eden Activity
Club (EAC) by Autism Association (Singapore) provide social integration opportunities specifically for
adults with autism who are currently without employment or support services. This programme is conducted every
Saturday, and it includes activities like sports, music and outings. Please contact the programme to find out more
and check for eligibility.
In light of enhance safe distancing measures for COVID-19, most activities
are now being conducted in small groups for its members, or suspended for the time-being.
Future Care Planning
Caregivers of people who lack mental capacity can apply to be their deputy. This gives
the deputy the authority to make important decisions where necessary, such as those involving personal welfare and
health, property ownership, and finances. As children with autism approach the age of 21, parents may want to
consider applying to be their court-appointed deputies – the Assisted Deputyship scheme will help them do
this, or they can approach the Office of
the Public Guardian directly. More information can be found here.
Other useful information:
Education
Actions To Take
- Consider enrolling your pre-schooler into an inclusive or integrated preschool.
- Find out more information and consider the different factors before enrolling your child into either a SPED
school or mainstream school.
Children and youths with autism have several education pathways they can choose from, depending on their individual
needs and abilities.
Pre-school
Apart from early intervention programmes, pre-schoolers may enrol in inclusive or integrated pre-schools.
Special education and mainstream school
Education is compulsory up to age 15 in Singapore, so children from age seven will need
to enrol in either Special Education (SPED) schools or mainstream primary schools.
A number of SPED schools in Singapore admit children with autism. Mainstream schools
support children with mild autism, with the assistance of allied educators and teachers trained in special needs
education. They work closely with community partners and parents on suitable school-based intervention and support.
Parents may consult medical professionals, social workers or teachers to seek their
recommendations on whether their child should go to a SPED school or mainstream school. The links below also provide
useful information.
Service providers:
Other useful information:
Employment
Actions To Take
- Consider various programmes (training, internships and mentorships) to prepare for working life.
- Explore skills upgrading and job placement opportunities.
- Find out more information on training and employment.
Work training and skills upgrading
There are various initiatives for students with special needs leaving the school system,
to help them prepare for working life. These include internships and vocational training.
There are also many
training courses offered at subsidised rates, and which are customed for persons with
disabilities to upgrade their skills and enhance their employability. There are also grants and subsidies available to
help
defray training costs.
Finding employment
Job seekers can look into services and schemes designed to help them secure and hold down a job. Organisations such
as Autism Resource
Centre (Singapore) provides a suite of services to support persons with autism who are looking for
employment.
Other useful information:
Featured articles:
Resources and Support
- List of Disability Service Providers for individuals with autism
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For more organisations, refer to this list
- List of SPED schools for students with autism
- Resources on work training and employment
- Additional resources for caregivers