In the special needs sector, the term “cliff effect” describes the problems faced by parents when their special needs children turn 18 and leave school. CNA’s Heart of the Matter podcast discusses the big gap in ensuring everyone on the spectrum has access to good care facilities.
SINGAPORE: When Bernard Chew’s autistic son turned 18, he and his wife had to find a Day Activity Centre that could keep him occupied. It was ironic that the St Andrew’s Autism Centre where Mr Chew is CEO, had run out of spaces and he had to look elsewhere.
“It's clear that there are not enough places in Day Activity Centres in Singapore. Other than DACs or sheltered workshops, there just isn't enough of these services,’’ said Mr Chew. Clement Phua Neo, a father of a 47-year-old son with an intellectual disability, and Jean Loo, deputy director for advocacy and community engagement at the Rainbow Centre, were also guests on the show.
It took Mr Phua two years to get his son to be more independent. And to prepare for his eventual demise, Mr Phua placed his son in a hostel for five days a week so that he can get used to living without his family. But even this arrangement has challenges - the hostel is closed six weeks a year.For Ms Loo, the solution cannot lie with just people in the sector or the service providers. Everyone, she said, needs to come together.
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