Individuals with autism empowered to lead meaningful lives
Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) or ARC(S) is a not-for-profit Voluntary Welfare Organisation (VWO) founded by volunteers in 2000. The centre adopts a multi-agency approach to help individuals with autism spectrum disorder maximise their potential in life.
Autism is a brain-based developmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others in a developmentally appropriate way. It is a spectrum condition and manifests in varying degrees of severity, complicating intervention efforts.
Autism in its mildest form can sometimes go undetected and in the more serious cases, lead to individuals being unable to speak.
According to its site, ARC(S) offers a wide range of services for these varying forms of autism. These include assessment and diagnosis, early intervention programmes, training for caregivers, library and information services, autism therapy, education through Pathlight School, enrichment programmes as well as a marketplace for autism products.
In 2004, ARC(S) set up the first autism-focused school in Singapore, Pathlight School, offering a blend of mainstream academic curriculum and life readiness skills, specially for students with autism and related learning disorders.
The school now serves more than 800 students. To cope with the burgeoning demand, a second campus for upper primary and secondary school students was opened in 2012.
Many people with autism also find it difficult to interact with others and require employers’ patience and understanding. ARC’s Employability & Employment Centre (E2C) helps individuals with autism to integrate into the workforce through skills training and job matching services.
Based on ARC’s research, it is estimated that 24,000 individuals have autism in Singapore, of which 5,472 are children under the age of 19 years. Over 200 children are diagnosed with autism every year.
The charity has more than 281 members to date and more than 4,000 lives have been impacted by its initiatives. About 40 per cent of its beneficiaries are from lower-income families, requiring highly subsidised services.
“There is much to do before the fulfillment of the vision of an inclusive society where persons with special needs will maximise their potential and become integral members of society,” said Denise Phua, President of ARC(S), in the 2012 Annual Report.
“We urge the rest of Singapore not to be mere observers or token contributors to the dream of an open and inclusive nation,” said Phua. “All Singaporeans with special needs, able or less able, are part of our Singapore family and should be seen, heard and valued.”
ARC(S)'s programmes especially for adults with autism are only partially state-subsidised. The rest of the funds are raised through donations and an annual fund-raising event, A Very Special Walk. These funds will help the charity to continue helping individuals with autism lead meaningful lives.
To donate, contact Jennylh.tan@autism.org.sg or visit http://www.autism.org.sg/donors. To volunteer, visit http://www.autism.org.sg/volunteers/needs.php.
Yahoo! Singapore 9
Singapore 9 is Yahoo! Singapore's annual National Day honours project. Back for the third time running this year, we are honouring nine charities in Singapore in the lead-up to the nation's birthday on August 9. Join us to Change A Life!
