Frequently Asked Questions on Services for Children, Young Adults and Adults
Please click on the question below to go to the answer.
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My child is in an early intervention centre and I want to move to a different centre. What should I do?
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1. My son is over two/ three years old and is not yet speaking /cannot walk properly. Where should I go for help?
First of all, bring along your child's Health Booklet issued by the hospital at birth, and visit your regular doctor or the polyclinic. The doctor will examine the child and if there is a need for further assessment, he will give you a referral to the specialists at the Department of Child Development at KKH or NUH.
The specialist at the CDU will assess your child and explain his condition to you. Social workers at the hospital will explain about the suitable therapy for your child. They will also forward the details of your child to Centre for Enabled Living, to place your child in a suitable facility to provide the proper assistance for your child.
Read more about for more details on the Programme
Read more about for list of Early Intervention (EIPIC) centres run by VWOs
You may call a centre to make an appointment to visit it before deciding on the centre of your choice.
Some newspaper articles that may be useful:
It is best to book an appointment early for diagnostics:
Straits Times, 2 June 2007
Saturday Special Report - Long Wait for Diagnosis and Therapy
Radha Basu, 945 words
….At KK Women's and Children's Hospital, which has Singapore's largest diagnostic unit for children with special needs, it takes about three months to get an appointment for diagnosis. Waiting times for therapy sessions are longer: two to four months to see a psychologist, two to three months to see an occupational therapist.
You may also wish to refer to the following titles on child development assessment, delay and intervention in the NLB libraries for your further reading.
Books
Title: Is It a Big Problem or a Little Problem?: When to Worry, When Not to Worry, and What To Do
Publisher: New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 2007.
Call no.: English 649.64 IS -[FAM]
Title: A Parent's Guide to Developmental Delays: Recognizing and Coping With Missed Milestones in Speech, Movement, Learning, and Other Areas
Author: LeComer, Laurie.
Publisher: New York : Perigee, c2006.
Call no.: English 649.152 LEC -[FAM]
Title: From Birth to Five years: Children's Developmental Progress
Author: Sheridan, Mary D. (Mary Dorothy)
Publisher: London ; New York : Routledge, c2008.
Call no.: English 155.422 SHE
Title: Play to Talk: A Practical Guide to Help Your Late-Talking Child Join the Conversation
Author: MacDonald, James D. (James David), 1940-
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : Kiddo Pub., c2007.
Call no.: English 618.9285506 MAC -[HEA]
Title: Assessment and Intervention With Children and Adolescents: Developmental and Multicultural Approaches
Author: Vernon, Ann.
Publisher: Alexandria, VA : American Counseling Association, c2005.
Call no.: R English 158.3083 VER
Title: Rainbow Dreams: How to Help Your Child With Developmental Delay
Publisher: Singapore : Rainbow Centre, [1996] c1997.
Call no.: RSING English 649.151 RA
If you intend to check the availability of any title before visiting our public libraries, you may do so via the online catalogue at: http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg
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2. My child is not a Singaporean or PR. Can he get admission into Early Intervention (EIPIC) Centres run by VWOs?
There are 11 early intervention centres that are run by voluntary welfare organisatons and subsidized by government. However, their priority is for Singaporean and PR children. Each may have its own admission criteria or policy for children who are not Singaporeans or PR. In addition, there is also a list of private agencies that provide various forms of early intervention to young children.
Read more about for a list of Early Intervention (EIPIC) centres run by VWOs
Looking at the various newspaper articles, it seems that there is a very long waiting list for the subsidised EIPIC and priority goes to Singaporeans first.
Straits Times, 20 January 2007
Review: Insight - The Dollars and Sense of Citizenship
971 words
The Government recently announced that health-care subsidies will be removed for non-residents and reduced for PRs, while education subsidies would be cut for PRs and foreigners. The rationale for the Government's move is twofold: reassure Singaporeans that they come first…..
Even the EIPIC Centres run by VWOs, impose a means test on local Singaporeans as the treatment is heavily subsidized by the government. So a low income Singaporean would enjoy a higher subsidy than a higher income one.
Straits Times, 2 June 2007
Saturday Special Report - When Therapy Bills Prove Hefty
Chua Mui Hoong & Irwin Yeo, 717 words
Therapy costs are a big headache for many parents with special-needs children. Private services are expensive while state-provided services are cheaper, but the wait is long. SPEECH therapy: public sector, $33; private sector, $120. Services for preschoolers in the early intervention programme for infants and children (Eipic) were means-tested from April 2006. From 2010, families with per capita income of more than $1,000 will not qualify for subsidy.
Responding to questions from The Straits Times, the ministry added: 'We make sure more money is channelled to families who are less well-off. This is the basis for means testing. It ensures lower-income families get the assistance they need.
To avoid a long wait, foreigners or PRs may consider opting for private EIPIC centers that, although are more costly, do not have a citizenship criteria for faster admission.
These articles can be found in the Factiva Database. You can access the database via http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg
If you are new to the database, you may wish to refer to these steps on how to access Factiva.http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/ask/eresources/921
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3. Can I use the Baby Bonus for early intervention or therapy programmes for my child who has been diagnosed with special needs?
You can obtain this list from www.cel.sg or www.babybonus.gov.sg . You can also call the Centre for Enabled Living at 6593-6437 directly for the list of private service providers.
According to the newspaper articles below (last accessed on 12 Oct 09), you can use the Baby Bonus for early intervention and therapy programs for a child with special needs:
The New Paper, 20 February 2005
Yummy Budget Bites for Rooster Year
832 words
Parents are now also allowed to use their co-savings for more expenses, including health insurance and early intervention programmes for children with special needs.
TODAY, 19 February 2005
News - Key Budget Initiatives
432 words
…Expansion of Baby Bonus Scheme co-savings to include health insurance and early intervention programmes for children with special needs.
For example, the Rainbow Centre Singapore which caters to children with special education needs, qualifies for the Baby Bonus scheme:
Is the baby bonus scheme applicable to your school (Rainbow Centre Singapore)?
Yes, we are one of the approved institutions for the scheme. Please visit http://www.ncss.org.sg/ncss/social_services/babybonus.html for more information.
(Source: www.rainbowcentre.org.sg/faq_parents.html, Last accessed on 1 October 2009)
The newspaper articles can be found in the Factiva Database. You can access the database via http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg
If you are new to the database, you may wish to refer to these steps on how to access Factiva.http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/ask/eresources/921
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4. My child is in an early intervention centre and I want to move to a different centre. What should I do?
You may approach the Centre for Enabled Living to make a referral to the centre of your choice. Alternatively, you may ask your social worker at the current centre to send the request for change and latest reports of your child to the case manager at CEL.
A newspaper article that may be helpful (more places now available at EIPIC:
TODAY, 19 November 2008
News - Short Waiting Times for Special Needs Schemes
Lin Yanqin, 152 words
Short waiting times for special needs schemes….Average waiting times for Early Intervention Programmes for Infants and Children (EIPIC) with special needs has dropped from nine months to four months, and there are now 11 centres providing these programmes, up from nine…. The number of places has also increased from 1,000 to 1,400, and a $3.6-million EIPIC support grant has disbursed $343,000 so far to needy families
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5. Where can I engage a speech therapist for my child who has speech problem?
1. Parents could get information on qualified speech therapists via the Speech-Language, Hearing Association Singapore's website. To access the list of speech therapy service providers from hospitals to private practices, visit www.shas.org.sg and mouseover the link "For the Public". From the drop down menu, select "SLT Providers in Singapore"
2. Alternatively, you may wish to visit the Singapore Yellowpages at www.yellowpages.com.sg, click on the icon & link "Browse Categories", click on "S" on the left panel and scroll down the resulting list for the link "Speech & Hearing Disorders-Corrective Training" for the list of privately practising speech specialists. Site last accessed on 07 October 2009.
3. To further empower yourself in the knowledge of your child's needs in speech therapy and your choice of therapists, you may wish to refer to the following works available in the public libraries.
Title: The Parent's Guide to Speech and Language Problems
By Debbie Feit with Heidi M. Feldman.
Publisher New York : McGraw-Hill, c2007.
Call No: English 618.92855 FEI -[HEA]
“My child doesn't have a problem, does he? Coming to terms with your concerns
-- Wait is a four-letter word: the importance of early intervention
-- Diving into the alphabet soup: Deciphering the M.D.s, Ph.D.s and SLPs to find the right expert for your child
-- Learning the lingo: Becoming fluent in the language of speech and language problems
-- How they do it: Understanding the different therapeutic techniques
-- Getting the right help: Finding and evaluating your child's speech therapist
-- Eating fish, riding horses, and other help from unexpected sources: Will your child benefit from complementary therapies?
-- Dealing with the diagnosis: The impact on your child, as well as your marriage, family, and job
-- Home/ work: Creating a communication-friendly home
-- School daze: Navigating your way through the individualized education program
-- Are you covered?: Cutting through the red tape of insurance
-- The tunnel is long but I promise there's a light: Encouraging advice, words of wisdom, and happy endings from parents just like you. “
Title: Children's Speech Sound Disorders
By Caroline Bowen.
Publisher Chichester, U.K. : Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
Call No: English 618.92855 BOW
The evolution of current practices
-- Terminology, classification, description, and assessment
-- Special populations
-- Intervention approaches
-- 'Common', 'best', and evidence-based practice
-- Symptomatic management of moderate and severe disorders
-- Treatment schedules, levels, and options
-- Targets, tips, tricks, and insights
-- Working with PACT
-- Directions and reflections
If you intend to check the availability of any title before visiting our public libraries, you may do so via the online catalogue at: http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg
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6. I have a child aged below six, with mild to moderate level of disability. I wish to admit him into a childcare, where he can interact with other children and be supervised by teachers trained with knowledge of disabilities.
The Integrated Childcare programme (ICCP) allows children with special needs to engage in the same group activities as other children in the centre, as well as caters to their learning needs through modifications of the curriculum. Staff trained in the management of children with special needs also help to develop an individual education plan for each child, working together with the parents and the healthcare professionals.
Read more about for more details about the programme
Read more about for the list of childcare centres offering the ICCP
In addition to this, you may read further from Straits Times article on childcare which provide such services. If you wish the read up on the full article, you may access to the resources at the following:
www.pl.sg >> E-Resources >> By A to Z >> F >> Factiva >> Key in "Straits Times" in sourcebox provided to find the entry>> type: Integrated Childcare Programme and Parents.
Do take note that you are required to register as a digital library member before accessing.
Straits Times, 18 September 2003
Early Help for Disabled Kids to Fit in
“…CHILDCARE centres are taking in children with disabilities in a new programme that will help them adapt to life in mainstream primary schools later. Since January, 36 children with mild to moderate physical, learning and intellectual disabilities - such as cerebral palsy, autism and Down's syndrome - have been placed in six centres. Another 60 places will be opened up in six other centres next year under the Integrated…The disabled children, between the ages of two and six, participate in the same activities as other children at the centre, but their special needs are looked after. For example, the curriculum is tailored to suit the learning pace of each disabled child. Depending on the centre, parents pay between $450 and $620 a month for a full-day programme. Children with disabilities are eligible for the same childcare subsidies as other children. In addition, kids from low-income families can apply to the Centre-based Financial Assistance Scheme for Childcare. Curriculum tailored to suit learning pace…”
Below are suggested titles available on the topic of disabilities education available in the public libraries:
Books
Subject search: Children with Disabilities Education
Title: Exploring Disability in Singapore: a Personal Learning Journey
Author: Levan Lim & Thana Thaver, Roger Slee
Publisher: Singapore : McGraw-Hill Education, c2008.
Call number: SING English 371.9095957 LIM
Title: Common Sense Methods for Children with Special Educational Needs
Author: Peter Westwood.
Publisher: London ; New York : Routledge, 2007.
Call number: English 371.91 WES
*available at Jurong Regional Library and Lee Kong Chian Reference Library
Title: A Parent's Guide to Tutors and Tutoring: How to Support the Unique Needs of Your Child
Author: James Mendelsohn
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : Jossey-Bass, c2008.
Call number: English 371.394 MEN
Title: The Special Educator's Tool Kit
Author: Sarah J. Barratt ; illustrations by Michael Pratley
Publisher: Los Angeles : SAGE, 2008.
Call number: English 371.9 BAR
You may check the availability of any title before visiting our public libraries at the following: http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg
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7. I have a special needs child aged above six. What school can he be admitted to?
Children with disabilities are integrated in mainstream schools as far as possible. Appropriate support is provided, depending on the child's needs. In every neighbourhood, one out of a cluster of eight schools is fitted with full facilities for easy access to pupils with physical disabilities. These schools are equipped with disabled -friendly features and are fully accessible. MOE provides special equipment for children with sensory disabilities in school, and deploys resource teachers and Special Needs Officers to these schools.
Read more about for a list of resourced Schools for Greater Support for Special Needs
For children unable to benefit from mainstream education, Special Education schools have been established - here lessons are taught by special education teachers in smaller class sizes and at a pace suitable for the child. Other professional services by therapists, social workers and psychologists are available to support the total development of the child.
Read more about for the list of Special Education schools
Some newspaper articles that may be useful:
Generally speaking, it is wiser to opt for government-funded schools as the government subsidizes these. Private school for special needs kids is very expensive.
Straits Times, 8 April 2009
Prime News - Put the Individual at Heart of Care Decisions
Chua Mui Hoong, Senior Writer, 1023 words
...Parents who send their children to special needs schools funded in part by the state benefit from the funding provided for such students, which amount to four times the amount spent per student in mainstream schools.
That is provided the children can get enrolled in such schools, given the long wait lists due to supply shortages.
Parents who don't want their child to wait a year to start their education in a special school may engage private specialists to work with their children - and pay the full market rate for such intervention. They would then not benefit from the roughly $17,000 to $26,000 the Education Ministry spends per student per year in a special education primary or secondary school.
There is some debate on whether to send your child to a ‘normal’ school (depending on his capabilities):
Straits Times, 6 September 2006
Singapore - Put More Disabled Kids in Normal Schools
Radha Basu, 714 words
'Special schools are like building ghettos for young children. They should never be a first option.'' MR RON CHANDRAN-DUDLEY, honorary secretary of the Disabled People's Association
...BUT IS THIS TOO IDEALISTIC?
'Normal children already have difficulties coping with the pressures of our school system, so special-needs children may find it even harder.' PROF LEE ENG HIN, chairman of the masterplan steering committee
CHILDREN with disabilities who can keep up with the set-up and the lessons in mainstream schools should be enrolled there, rather than herded into special schools, say disability experts.
Such 'integrated'' education programmes are still fairly limited here. As of 2004, about 750 blind, deaf and physically disabled children were attending mainstream schools.
Putting them in such schools will better prepare these children to compete as equals in the workforce once they grow up, said Ms Judy Wee, vice-president of the Handicaps Welfare Association
These articles can be found in the Factiva Database. You can access the database via http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg
If you are new to the database, you may wish to refer to these steps on how to access Factiva.http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/ask/eresources/921
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8. My special needs child is attending mainstream /special school. I am working and would like to place him in a student care centre before /after school hours. Where can I send him?
There are Special Student Care Centres (SSCCs) that provide before and after school care services for students with disabilities attending mainstream or special education schools. These centres provide a structured daily programme and include meals (lunch and tea), supervised study time, bath time, rest /nap time and other social /recreational /life skills training activities.
Read more about for a complete list of SSCCs
Fees payable will based on Means testing – Read more about for more details.
The following titles may prove to be useful for your informational needs.
Title: Building a Joyful Life With Your Child Who Has Special Needs
Author: Whiteman, Nancy J.
Publisher: London ; Philadelphia : Jessica Kingsley, 2007
Call no.: R English 649.15 WHI (For reference only)
Available only the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library
Title: A Different Kind of Perfect: Writings by Parents on Raising a Child With Special Needs
Edited by Bernadette Thomas and Cindy Dowling ; chapter introductions by Neil Nicoll.
Other Title: Lessons from my child.
Publisher: Boston : Trumpeter, 2006
Call no.: English 306.874087 LES -[FAM]
Title: Breakthrough Parenting for Children with Special Needs: Raising the Bar of Expectations
Author: Winter, Judy, 1953-
Publisher: San Francisco, CA : Jossey-Bass, c2006
Call no.: English 649.151 WIN -[FAM]
Available only at the Jurong Regional Library
If you intend to check the availability of any title before visiting our public libraries, you may also do so via the online catalogue at: http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg
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9. I have a 20 year old sibling who is low in IQ. He has not been to school since young. He mostly spends his time at home. Is there anywhere we can send him?
For intellectually impaired persons as your sibling, options available are Day Activity Centres, Sheltered /Production Workshop and Open Employment.
Day Activity Centres (DACs) provide activities and services to train people with disabilities to be independent and self-sufficient to the best of their abilities. These centres prepare clients with disability for the transition to workshop employment when appropriate. They cater to persons aged 16 and above, who are not able to take up open employment or attend sheltered workshops. They also provide a form of respite for caregivers during working hours. Programmes involve activities to promote the development of cognitive, social, communication, language and motor skills. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy services are also provided.
A Sheltered Workshop is a form of employment for persons, aged 16 years and above, with moderate to severe disability (depending on their disability type) where they acquire basic job skills, such as packaging and assembly, through sub-contract work. The workshop also serves as training centres for 'work trials' until the worker is ready to take up open employment. The workshops provide paid work assignments as well as training and self-enrichment programmes for the clients.
A Production Workshop is a form of employment for persons with moderate disability (depending on their disability type), such as printing and manufacturing, in a production line.
For persons with slight to moderate disability, with the necessary skills, he/she can look for jobs in the open market. If help is needed in this area, they can always turn to job placement organisations to locate the most suitable job according to their interest and needs.
A list of Day Activity Centres and Sheltered / Production workshops and open employment opportunities can be found under “Available Services“on the Centre for Enabled Living website at www.cel.sg.
Some newspaper articles that may be useful:
In 2008, the Straits Times profiled some of these workshops and centers in a Saturday report.
EXTRACTED FROM FACTIVA, a database available at <eresources.nlb.gov.sg>.
About Sheltered Workshops:
Straits Times, 12 April 2008
Saturday Special Report - Looking Beyond Disability
STIMES, English, 1846 words
(c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
Senior Correspondent Radha Basu examines the issues facing those with intellectual and other disabilities as well as those who care for them.
The Minds outfits are part of a chain of eight 'sheltered' workshops islandwide where around 1,300 disabled workers do simple sorting and packing jobs. They are run by six voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs).
About Touch Ubi Hostel; a transitional home for intellectually disabled adults with a day-activity centre.
Straits Times, 12 April 2008
Saturday Special Report - A Day at a Halfway Home for the Intellectually Disabled
Radha Basu, 1466 words
STIMES, English
(c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
At this hostel, students work towards graduating with social and domestic skills for the outside world
BROWS knit, Mr Phillip Wong, 29, paces up and down, deftly mopping white-tiled floors.
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10. My low IQ sibling has been living with my mother. My mother is ageing and cannot care /has recently died and there is no one to care for him/her. Where can I send him to stay?
Homes for persons with disabilities provide both long-term (residential) and short-term (respite) care. These are generally a last resort for those who have no families, no suitable caregivers or whose families and caregivers for various reasons are unable to take care of them. Homes for the disabled in Singapore aim to maximise the potential of people with disabilities through therapy, training and recreational activities.
For a list of suitable homes, you can find them on the Centre for Enabled Living website at www.cel.sg under Available Services (look under 'Residential Homes’, ‘Hostels' and 'Day Activity Centres'). Fees charged by the various service providers will be based on Means testing.
A newspaper article on the number of homes and waiting time:
Straits Times, 12 April 2008
Saturday Special Report - Homes for the Disabled Running Close to Capacity
Radha Basu, 988 words
With homes for the disabled running at nearly 90 per cent full - and a few already chock-a-block - Madam Yeo's sister has been on a waiting list for the past eight months.
…..the average waiting times for those who want to get into disabled homes, according to the National Council of Social Service, is less than a month.
Occupancy rates have risen sharply from the 75 per cent they hovered at in 2002 but have stabilised over the past two years.
There are currently seven government-funded homes for the disabled, with a total capacity of around 750.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross Home for the Disabled is forging ahead with its own expansion plans.
The Elizabeth Drive home, which has 85 beds for long-term residential care, will move to new premises in Bukit Merah with a new capacity of 130. It will also have a day activity centre for 50 disabled folk.
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11. I have a special needs sibling who is quite independent and employed. Is there anywhere he can stay during the weekdays and return on weekends?
Hostels are for persons with disability in employment, who do not require high level care and need to stay in a communal residential facility specially catered for their disability. Persons eligible should be medically certified by a licensed doctor on their disability and mental status. More information on hostels is available at www.cel.sg under the relevant disability (look under 'Homes, Hostels and Day Activity Centres')
Some newspaper articles on the hostels for special needs (which may be costly):
Straits Times, 23 September 2004
Singapore - Hostel in Joo Chiat to Help Youths With Special Needs
Serene Goh, 632 words
Boarders stay in single or shared rooms, and go for work stints at on-campus minimart and cafe to train them to live independently
Named The Cotton Tree Group Home, after the three-storey-high tree in its yard, it has room for up to 70 people, said its operator, the Genesis School for Special Education in West Coast.
The not-for-profit private organization set up the assisted-living hostel in Joo Chiat Place to cater for those with special needs, including autism and Down's syndrome.
However, its rooms do not come cheap. Rent is $1,300 for single rooms, $900 for twin-sharing and $600 for three to a room. It includes the cost of utilities and use of the facilities.
Each boarder has to pay another $1,500 for home supervision and the services of auxiliary staff, which include an overnight resident manager, said Ms Lisa Barron, 44, the director and principal of Genesis
Straits Times, 28 January 2006
Singapore - Second Chance Hostel
Tania Tan, 728 words
At Touch Ubi Hostel, the needy are equipped with skills and confidence to lead fruitful, independent lives
SECOND chances. That is what the Touch Ubi Hostel offers.
Residents at the hostel learn how to perform household chores, such as washing clothes, personal grooming and how to take public transport alone, a skill which can take them up to three months to learn.
These articles can be found in the Factiva Database. You can access the database via http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg
If you are new to the database, you may wish to refer to these steps on how to access Factiva.http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/ask/eresources/921
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12. What can my son /daughter learn if he is placed in a Day Activity Centre?
He or she will learn about self-care and hygiene, people relationship, independent living and work skills.
Some newspaper articles:
The New Paper, 18 August 2009
News - I'm Preparing Them for Day When I'm Not Around
Andre Yeo, 928 words
Her sons attend SPD's day activity centre on weekdays where they learn to read, write, count and feed themselves.
Straits Times, 17 May 2008
Singapore - Pick Up Life Skills at Bishan Home
Lee Pei Qi, 547 words
Intellectually disabled residents learn how to be more independent. These activities, which are organized by the home, help the mentally disabled pick up new skills.
…..They are taught routine tasks, from eating and brushing their teeth to recognizing road signs and taking public transport.
Straits Times, 12 April 2008
Saturday Special Report - A Day at a Halfway Home for the Intellectually Disabled Radha Basu, 1466 words
….THE hostel is run by Touch Community Services (TCS) and much of the day is structured around work and wellness.
….At this hostel, students work towards graduating with social and domestic skills for the outside world. Its final aim is to help residents live on their own and lead productive work lives.
….In some other homes, people wait to die. Here they learn how to live - and live well.'MRS LORNA WONG, 56, whose son, Phillip, is learning simple tasks, such as cleaning, in order to get a job.
These articles can be found in the Factiva Database. You can access the database via http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg
If you are new to the database, you may wish to refer to these steps on how to access Factiva.http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/ask/eresources/921.
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