Parents who created jobs for their special needs children

[Blueray]

‘We couldn’t wait for help’: Parents who created jobs for their special needs children

SINGAPORE - When Mr Henry Teong set up 168 Neopolitan Style Pizza at Taman Jurong Food Centre with his wife Mylene in February, their goal was not to rake in huge profits.

Instead, they wanted to create a future job for their 16-year-old son Jonas, who has autism. Today, Jonas helps out with food tasting at the stall. 

Mr Teong, 55, holds a day job selling chemical raw materials under his own firm. He told The Straits Times: “This stall was opened in the hope that we lead by example to help children with special needs. We hope that Jonas will have a future as he grows up and becomes more capable.”

Over the years, a number of parents have set up businesses for their special needs children, even though they have no prior experience in the chosen sector. At the same time, they hope to extend employment opportunities to others in the special needs community. 

This is because people with disabilities (PWDs), who leave the safe confines of special education schools when they turn 18, have limited options such as sheltered workshops and day activity centres, or are even kept at home. This situation – which can be isolating for them and their caregivers – is described as the “post-18 cliff”.

One such caregiver is Madam Faraliza Zainal, who operated a class for special needs students out of a small storeroom in Sultan Mosque in 2011. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine it would become an education hub with more than 360 students today. 

The former regional training manager had only wanted to let her son Mohd Ashraf Mohd Ali have an easier time accessing religious lessons, after he was labelled “gila” (“crazy” in Malay) by some of his madrasah, or religious school, classmates.

Now 23, he has autism and tuberous sclerosis, which triggers epilepsy attacks.

My Inspiring Journey Hub, or “MIJ Hub”, offers an academic curriculum, and vocational and daily living skills training for students with learning differences who are aged two to 30 years. It has three outlets in Singapore, and a new one in Kuala Lumpur.

It even branched out into the food and beverage and retail sectors through Ashraf’s Cafe and INSPO – platforms that were created as a training ground for its graduates to enhance their vocational skills through paid employment. It also runs a food stall at Methodist Girls’ School.

Madam Faraliza, 52, said: ”My students have moderate-to-high special needs and cannot get any job from open employment after they leave their special education school. Rather than wait for someone to knock on our door, we have to keep coming up with projects and opportunities to engage them.”

One project is The Takeout Campaign, where Ashraf, his peers and a team of volunteers prepare and deliver meals every weekend to 36 low-income families with special needs children during Ramadan. 

As for Mr Khong Yoon Kay and Mrs Jeanne Seah-Khong, both 67, they set up Joan Bowen Cafe more than a decade ago so that their daughter Joan, now 33, could be socially engaged.

They do not think that Joan, who has intellectual disabilities, can eventually take over the business. Said Mr Khong: “Food and beverage (F&B) trends and customers’ preferences keep evolving. A special needs person won’t be able to follow and adapt to the changes quickly.”

It can also be hard to sustain the business or recruit more PWDs, as they need more supervision, he added. “There is already a shortage of manpower in the F&B sector, not to mention those who would have the heart to guide them.”

The cafe is now staffed by the couple, Joan, and a special needs chef. In the early years, they hired more than 20 staff with special needs.

Mrs Seah-Khong said: ”The challenge also comes from some parents who dictate what they want their special needs children to do when they work with us, or how much they should earn.”

Statistics show that among residents with disabilities aged between 15 and 64, an average of 31.4 per cent were employed in 2021 and 2022. Singapore aims to have 40 per cent of working-age PWDs employed by 2030.

Under the Enabling Masterplan 2030, there will be more community support services, as well as training and employment opportunities nearer to where PWDs live.

The Enabling Services Hub will be launched in Tampines West Community Club by mid-2023, offering social inclusion activities and continual education for PWDs, as well as drop-in respite care to support caregivers.

The first Enabling Business Hub will also be launched in Jurong West later in 2023 to provide job support for PWDs.

The Enabling Academy by SG Enable is developing the Enabling Skills Framework to help PWDs chart their lifelong learning journey, and will recommend skills and courses to enhance their opportunities for participation in social and community life, as well as in employment. It will also ensure more accessible training programmes to upskill PWDs.

The academy offers the Temasek Trust-CDC Lifelong Learning Enabling Fund, and administers scholarships by Google, Meta and VMware. It also seeks to broaden partnerships with continuing education and training centres and institutes of higher learning, among others.

Crunchy Teeth, a bakery founded in 2019 by four mothers of children with autism, also hopes to collaborate with tertiary education institutions to explore methods such as virtual reality solutions to ease autistic individuals into the real working environment.

Besides F&B, it hopes to train its interns, who are autistic adults aged 18 years and above, in areas such as horticulture and packing.  

Co-founder Tan Yen Peng, 46, said: “With extra patience and proper coaching, our autistic community does have the ability to fulfil its job responsibilities and produce quality work.

“By having more open channels to speak up for our silent autistic community, we can open up the minds of potential employers, and, in turn, increase the chances of gaining employment opportunities for our autistic workforce.”

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/we-couldn-t-wait-for-help-parents-who-created-jobs-for-their-special-needs-children

 

heartwarming. 

support 

 

[RadX]

on top of that, many have left sgp as its not a place where their kids can flourish and develop.....

[Unfazed]

On 4/24/2023 at 9:44 AM, RadX said:

on top of that, many have left sgp as its not a place where their kids can flourish and develop.....

I have a friend with an autistic son who did exactly that. I think he sold everything he could here. I think his kind of work seems to have the worthy demand in Australia. Hence he asked his friend for a job referral and he got it. It was exactly the same reason he cited. I was sad to hear him go as he is a close friend but also happy to see him progress there. 

[BanCoe]

On 4/24/2023 at 9:44 AM, RadX said:

on top of that, many have left sgp as its not a place where their kids can flourish and develop.....

Dont they (parents) have to started from ground zero and also pay privately at the Special Needs Centres/ Schools overseas too.....oh well maybe Singapore lacks in this field     

[Unfazed]

On 4/24/2023 at 10:20 AM, BanCoe said:

Dont they (parents) have to started from ground zero and also pay privately at the Special Needs Centres/ Schools overseas too.....oh well maybe Singapore lacks in this field     

Nevertheless I always feel it takes great courage for one to uproot from his or her birth place to resettle into another place, especially from where we are where is still considered a good place thou I dun quite agree with lots of policies but that is another matter another subject. Maybe we could do more for this group with PWDs in terms of society acceptance. 

Some poly courses accepted PWDs but the reality is that there is no way the industry can employ them after they graduate, not that the industry don't want to. Communication on the ground is sorely lacking in reality. It just kinda ruin these kids than helping them. 

[RadX]

On 4/24/2023 at 10:20 AM, BanCoe said:

Dont they (parents) have to started from ground zero and also pay privately at the Special Needs Centres/ Schools overseas too.....oh well maybe Singapore lacks in this field     

Still not there bro

 

once they go to work, many are still

ignorant

 

as is, normal ppl can’t survive the stress , what not them

 

thats why milo lady has been a strong advocate and only now u see changes

[RadX]

On 4/24/2023 at 10:47 AM, Unfazed said:

Nevertheless I always feel it takes great courage for one to uproot from his or her birth place to resettle into another place, especially from where we are where is still considered a good place thou I dun quite agree with lots of policies but that is another matter another subject. Maybe we could do more for this group with PWDs in terms of society acceptance. 

Some poly courses accepted PWDs but the reality is that there is no way the industry can employ them after they graduate, not that the industry don't want to. Communication on the ground is sorely lacking in reality. It just kinda ruin these kids than helping them. 

Well said… as with my post above

[Ingenius]

On 4/24/2023 at 9:44 AM, RadX said:

on top of that, many have left sgp as its not a place where their kids can flourish and develop.....

If one has what it takes to succeed, any where he goes also can be successful as others are. If not, then go where also the same. 

[RadX]

On 4/24/2023 at 10:52 AM, Ingenius said:

If one has what it takes to succeed, any where he goes also can be successful as others are. If not, then go where also the same. 

To a certain extent yes, but community needs to also give that little impetus to these folks soemtimes. At best, that little help for these challenged individuals 

beyond that , they shd be left to develop lest a crutch mentality set in

 

more have been seen doing that but more would be welcome too

[Unfazed]

On 4/24/2023 at 10:52 AM, Ingenius said:

If one has what it takes to succeed, any where he goes also can be successful as others are. If not, then go where also the same. 

Sorry but I dun agree. Sometimes we need policies to lent these PWDs a helping hand, else how can we prove we are inclusive and accepting. No point showing how inclusive we are as a report card.

This is also exactly one of the reasons we have many of our people who are successful outside and decided no point coming back. 

It shouldn't happened to us especially we are "first world". We can walk the world one round and still yearn to be back to contribute to our birth place but sadly it's not happening. At least most of us don't feel it. 

[RadX]

On 4/24/2023 at 11:01 AM, Unfazed said:

Sorry but I dun agree. Sometimes we need policies to lent these PWDs a helping hand, else how can we prove we are inclusive and accepting. No point showing how inclusive we are as a report card.

This is also exactly one of the reasons we have many of our people who are successful outside and decided no point coming back. 

It shouldn't happened to us especially we are "first world". We can walk the world one round and still yearn to be back to contribute to our birth place but sadly it's not happening. At least most of us don't feel it. 

On that note  also, not developing too much of a crutch mentality

 

so at end of it all, that’s why ppl leave

[Unfazed]

On 4/24/2023 at 11:03 AM, RadX said:

On that note  also, not developing too much of a crutch mentality

 

so at end of it all, that’s why ppl leave

Yes I agree on this aspect. Give them a little helping hand as a start off like a runway. Leave them alone when established. And let social acceptance takes its shape and allow social graciousness to take form for greater good. Do pardon me for my naivety if so.

[RadX]

On 4/24/2023 at 11:11 AM, Unfazed said:

Yes I agree on this aspect. Give them a little helping hand as a start off like a runway. Leave them alone when established. And let social acceptance takes its shape and allow social graciousness to take form for greater good. Do pardon me for my naivety if so.

idealistic at best, and that is sad.  the pragmatic part is most here want RESULTS....and these individuals can't strive in that.  Aldy they are battling their inner selves, ...........Won't be soon before we see any of these changes

[Jman888]

On 4/24/2023 at 11:01 AM, Unfazed said:

Sorry but I dun agree. Sometimes we need policies to lent these PWDs a helping hand, else how can we prove we are inclusive and accepting. No point showing how inclusive we are as a report card.

This is also exactly one of the reasons we have many of our people who are successful outside and decided no point coming back. 

It shouldn't happened to us especially we are "first world". We can walk the world one round and still yearn to be back to contribute to our birth place but sadly it's not happening. At least most of us don't feel it. 

i agree with you but i think singapore is not ideal or can make it to that stage due to competitiveness of the small country to survive in this region, unlike bigger country where the density of the population is more comfortable to accept these PWDs.

You can hide in a small town in Australia or even a suburb is good enough, not in singapore where you literally facing the cruel world when you step out of the house. People is less aware or less empathize when everyone is out there to judge everyone, on the road, on a bus or train, in the work place, public area, hawker centre etc, people are quick to judge when behavior are not deem 'normal'. 

Whenever i see 'abnormal' behavior in public places, my first reaction is to access the behavior. Me, wife n kids will remind each other when seeing such behavior, my girl is teaching in special needs pre-school and she pick up such behavior faster and analyse for us so we are more aware now, but then we can only do this much.

 

[Blueray]

For SG, I reckon the starting point for most is Pathlight. Thereafter, its GCE O / GCE A / vocational depending on results.

The concern is if in vocational track, would the child be able to earn enough to say maintain a comfortable way of life, start a family, afford say a 4 room flat etc. 

Not easy for parents as parents cannot be around forever and will go before the child.

So kudos to the parents who are enabling their child so that they can carry on independently. 

[Benarsenal]

On 4/24/2023 at 11:19 AM, Jman888 said:

i agree with you but i think singapore is not ideal or can make it to that stage due to competitiveness of the small country to survive in this region, unlike bigger country where the density of the population is more comfortable to accept these PWDs.

You can hide in a small town in Australia or even a suburb is good enough, not in singapore where you literally facing the cruel world when you step out of the house. People is less aware or less empathize when everyone is out there to judge everyone, on the road, on a bus or train, in the work place, public area, hawker centre etc, people are quick to judge when behavior are not deem 'normal'. 

Whenever i see 'abnormal' behavior in public places, my first reaction is to access the behavior. Me, wife n kids will remind each other when seeing such behavior, my girl is teaching in special needs pre-school and she pick up such behavior faster and analyse for us so we are more aware now, but then we can only do this much.

 

Sad to say this is the reality here. If you're not 'normal' in the typical Singaporean sense then it's very hard to survive here.

[BanCoe]

We Singkies always feel that everyone here is perfect and just side sweep the issue..... I know of a fairly well to do parent whom has a daughter in her 30's now with special needs ; Daughter went with mother to Aussie for some therapy for nearly over a year+  (was told mostly is swimming) in her teens around 14 years old...... Looks much better now in co-ordination but just stays at home or goes to Dad's office to "time pass"     

[mersaylee]

My gal is teaching in preskool...not qualified to handle special needs which requires different modules in the final year...yet thrown into it becos no one else in her skool is any more qualified than her whom is supposedly equipped and benefited from the latest knowledge and teaching curriculums...

Moreover, the guidelines now is not to differentiate them too early, especially when they are on borderline cases...always give them a chance or two to mix and blend in with the majority...for a more inclusive and behavioral adjustment from both spectrums...normal kids can also benefit from the get-together and develop empathy...

However, almost every other week my gal would relate the incidents in her classes...i could only listen and to hear her...i feel her for being smacked in between...from skool guidelines vs parents, the Do vs Dont...apart from dealing with her superior and colleagues...

The drop out rate is rather high within her cohort...so...it's tough...on all front...