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More places at day activity centres for adults with autism, disabilities

SINGAPORE — A new day activity centre for adults with autism will be up and running in Clementi later this year, while an existing centre in Ubi for those with disabilities will be expanded. In all, about 140 places will be added, bringing the total number of places at day activity centres to almost 1,200, said Parliamentary Secretary (Social and Family Development) Low Yen Ling yesterday.

SINGAPORE — A new day activity centre for adults with autism will be up and running in Clementi later this year, while an existing centre in Ubi for those with disabilities will be expanded. In all, about 140 places will be added, bringing the total number of places at day activity centres to almost 1,200, said Parliamentary Secretary (Social and Family Development) Low Yen Ling yesterday.

Two residential homes — one in Sengkang for adults with autism, and the other in Pasir Ris for those with multiple disabilities — will also be built by 2018. Currently, there are eight homes and 21 day activity centres for adults with disabilities islandwide.

During the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s (MSF) Committee of Supply debate, several Members of Parliament had asked for more targeted assistance in job searching, training and infrastructural support for adults with special needs.

Ms Low said the ministry hopes to put in place a “wider range of care options in future, to meet different needs based on the type of disabilities, severity and level of family support”.

The MSF is also working with selected employers to redesign workplaces and step up job placements for these individuals.

To enhance mobility for people with disabilities, the MSF has partnered the National Council of Social Service to award grants to three operators that provide dedicated transport for those using community-based disability services or attending special education schools. The grants, totalling S$4 million, will offset the operators’ costs of buying and retrofitting 33 new vans or buses.

The ministry is also exploring ways to boost services for children with special needs. For instance, it aims to reach out to 3,200 children by 2018 under the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children, compared with 2,200 last year.

The programme will also be revamped to include a common evaluation tool to assess a child’s needs and provide the appropriate service. KELLY NG

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