Children With Disabilities

Information on the resources, schools and facilities for children with disabilities in Singapore...

Information on education, support and services available to children with disabilities living in Singapore.

SSNAP (Singapore Special Needs and Parents) is a support group for expatriate families in Singapore with special needs children.

• SSNAP
  e-mail

This page contains information about facilities for:

ADD & ADHD Autism Cerebral Palsy Down Syndrome Dyslexia Dyspraxia Hearing Impairments & Deafness

Muscular Dystrophy Speech & Language Impairments Tourette Syndrome Visual Impairment Learning Disabilities Multiple Disabilities Physical Disabilities

ADD and ADHD

ADD is Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

The aim of the Society for the Promotion of ADHD Research & Knowledge (SPARK) is to: Create public awareness of ADD/ADHD, help children with ADD/ADHD and their parents and families cope with the disorder, promote understanding and research on ADD/ADHD, and support ADD/ADHD adults.

• The Society for the Promotion of ADHD Research & Knowledge (SPARK)
  At: 1008 Toa Payoh North, #03-08 Singapore 318996
  e-mail
  

Autism

The Autism Association (Singapore) (AAS) centre runs an Early Intervention Programme (EIP), the Autism Youth Centre, Star Kid Programme, Star Club (Art) Programme as well as support groups (English and Chinese).

• Autism Association (Singapore) (AAS)
  At: Blk 381, Clementi Avenue 5 #01-398, Singapore 120381
  Tel: 6774 6649
  Fax: 6774 6957
  e-mail
  

The Autism Resource Centre (ARC) conducts assessments and training workshops for parents and educators. It has an online catalogue and provides book loans. It runs the Pathlight School and early intervention programmes.

Pathlight School is the first autism-focused school offering the Singapore mainstream curriculum with special accommodation and support to students with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

It also runs an Autism Outreach Support programme which offers help for children in mainstream primary and secondary schools. Their advisors focus on educational support and modification in classrooms as well as skills training in problem solving and understanding of social events.

• Autism Resource Centre (ARC)
  At: No.6, Ang Mo Kio St.44, Singapore 569253
  Tel: 6323 3258
  Fax: 6323 1974
  e-mail
  
• Pathlight School
  Tel: 6459 9951
  Fax: 6459 3397

Christian Outreach for The Handicapped (COH) runs programmes for autistic teenagers.

• Christian Outreach for The Handicapped (COH)
  At: 414 Tampines Street 41, #01-301, Singapore 520414
  Tel: 6440 9740 / 6440 9744 / 6440 9745

The Rainbow Centre offers an individualised programme, Structured Teaching for Exceptional Pupils (STEP), for children between the ages of two and twelve years with autism or associated problems.

• Rainbow Centre website

Autism siblings support

Autism Siblings Support Singapore is a non-profit group for siblings of autistic children. AS3 organises events and regular group meetings to help siblings understand their brother/sister better and to make friends with others that have similar family circumstances.

• Autism Siblings Support Singapore website
  e-mail

Asperger’s Syndrome

The International Asperger’s Parents Support Group of Singapore (IAPS) is a support group of parents who meet monthly to discuss issues involved in raising Asperger children in Singapore, particularly, but not exclusively, children of expatriate parents in Singapore. Members exchange ideas and resources and share knowledge about a range of issues such as social skills, schools, dietary options, physical therapies and therapists.

• International Asperger’s Parents Support Group of Singapore (IAPS) 
  e-mail

Cerebral Palsy

The association runs an EIP, educational and vocational programmes for members, from birth through adulthood.

• Spastic Children's Association of Singapore (SCAS)
  Cerebral Palsy Centre
  At: 65 Pasir Ris Drive 1, Singapore 519529
  Tel: 6585 5600
  Fax: 6585 5603
  e-mail
  

Down Syndrome

The Down Syndrome Association (Singapore) (DSA) runs support groups and holds quarterly talks and meetings. It also has a toy and resource library. Its Youth Wing runs social and recreational activities for members aged ten years and older.

• Down Syndrome Association (Singapore) (DSA)
  DSA Centre
  At: Blk 17A, Telok Blangah Crescent, #01-270 Singapore 091017
  Tel: 6278 3907
  Fax: 6278 3908
  e-mail
  

Dyslexia

The Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) has children attend classes twice a week at one of the three DAS centres. Children with similar needs will be placed in small groups where they are taught by experienced and qualified teachers.

• Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS)
  Dyslexia Centre
  At: 1 Jurong West Central 2 #05-01, Jurong Point Singapore 648889
  Tel: 6444 5700
  Fax: 6444 7900

Dyspraxia

This is a message forum where parents of children diagnosed with Dyspraxia can share their experience.

• Dyspraxia Support Group
  e-mail (to subscribe)

Hearing Impairment and Deafness

This Singapore Association for the Deaf (SAD) provides services for adults.

• Singapore Association for the Deaf (SAD)
  At: 227 Mountbatten Road, Singapore 397998
  Tel: 6344 8274
  Fax: 6345 7706

This Singapore School for the Deaf (SSD) offers EI and primary education.

• Singapore School for the Deaf (SSD)
  At: 227 Mountbatten Road, Singapore 397998
  Tel: 6473 3822
  Fax: 6473 2440
  e-mail

The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Listen and Talk Programme was launched in July 2001 to help children with various degrees of hearing impairment develop their ability to listen and use spoken language to communicate.

• Singapore General Hospital Listen and Talk Programme
  At: ENT Centre, Specialist Outpatient Clinic, Block 3 Basement 1, Singapore General Hospital
  Tel: 6326 5404
  Fax: 6321 3523

TOUCH Community Services Ltd runs the Touch Silent Club.

• TOUCH Community Services Ltd
  At: Blk 162 Bukit Merah Central #05-3555, Singapore 150162
  Tel: 6317 9953

The Canossian School for the Hearing Impaired has a Special Class Programme, in which a modified mainstream curriculum is provided for pupils with hearing impairment and mild intellectual disabilities.

• Canossian School for the Hearing Impaired
  At: 1 Sallim Road, Singapore 387621
  Tel: 6749 8971
  

Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Federation Singapore (DHHFS) is a non-profit, self-help and advocacy organisation, founded in 1998 and run by and for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. It provides programs relevant to the deaf and hard-of-hearing members and serves to informing the public about hearing loss.

• Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Federation Singapore (DHHFS)
  At: Blk 23 Telok Blangah Cresent, #01-40 Enabled Centre, Singapore 090023
  Fax: 6275 7882
  Open: every Sunday from 15:00-18:00 (weekdays by appointment only)
  e-mail

Deaf-initely Boleh! (boleh means "can" in Malay) is an organisation which works to help the deaf integrate more effectively into society at all levels.

Intellectual Disability

Vocational School for the Handicapped (VSH) provides vocational training to youths with hearing-impairment and/or mild intellectual disability.

The Certificate of Vocational Training is awarded on successful completion of the two-year course. The school is an approved Training Centre of the Institute of Technical Education (ITE).

• Vocational School for the Handicapped (VSH)
  At: 225 Mountbatten Rd, Singapore 397997
  Tel: 6440 3331
  Fax: 6447 0094

Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore) (MDAS) aims to provide care and support for people with Muscular Dystrophy, as well as education and research on the condition.

• Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore) (MDAS)
  At: 9 Bishan Place #06-01 Junction 8, Singapore 579837
  Tel: 6259 6933
  Fax: 6259 6911
  e-mail
  

Speech and Language Impairment

The Speech Language and Hearing Association Singapore (SHAS) is the professional association for speech therapists (also called speech pathologists or SLTs) working in Singapore. They are a small, active group of health professionals who work with people who have difficulty with communication and/or swallowing.

• Speech Therapy Department
  At: Singapore general Hoispital, Outram Rd, Singapore 169608

Tourette Syndrome

The Singapore TS Care Group website hopes to create and promote public understanding of TS. They also run a support group to help children with TS and their parents and families cope with the disorder and give support to TS adults.

Visual Impairment

The Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) school offers EI (Early Intervention) and primary education.

• Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH)
  At: 47 Tao Payoh Rise, Singapore 298104
  Tel: 6251 4331
  Fax: 6253 7191
  

Intellectual Disabilities

TOUCH Learning Support Services provides one-to-one intervention programmes for children aged from two-and-a-half to twelve years with special needs such as autism, speech and communication delay, intellectual disability, Down syndrome and other learning disabilities.

• TOUCH Learning Support Services
  At: 3615 Jalan Bukit Merah, 3rd Floor TOUCH Community Theatre, Singapore 159461
  Tel: 6377 0122 
  Fax: 6377 0121
  

This Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN) runs the following schools for students aged six to sixteen years with mild mental retardation.

• Chao Yang Special School (Newton)
• Jervois Special School (Alexandra)
• Katong Special School (Siglap)
• Tanglin Special School (River Valley)
• Delta Senior School (for ages 16 to 18)
• There is also an APSN Centre for Adults (Delta)

Metta School: School catering to pupils with mild to moderate intellectual disability. Metta School takes in children living in the east.

• Metta School
  At: 30 Simei Street, Singapore 529950
  Tel: 6788 5800
  Fax: 6788 5507
  e-mail
  

The Student Care Service has a team of trained Social Workers, Educational Psychologists, Learning Support Specialists and Project Executives/Programme Co-ordinators providing professional help to students through family casework, counselling, groupwork, educational assistance and special learning support. There are three centres: Hougang, Clementi and Yishun.

Their WINGS program is a project designed for upper primary students with learning difficulties.

• Student Care Service Website

Multiple Disabilities

Both AWWA Special School and Rainbow Centre School run EI programmes (from birth to four) and programmes for children with multiple disabilities.

AWWA also provides an integration programme, TEACHME, which caters for the educational, rehabilitative and social needs of children with physical disabilities or autism.

Rainbow Centre operates two schools - Margaret Drive Special School (MDSS) and Balestier Special School (BSS).

• AWWA Special School
  
• Rainbow Centre

Physical Disabilities

The Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) is committed to working in partnership with people with physical disabilities to develop their potential to the fullest so that they can be self-reliant and independent. SPD provides various programmes and services for children and youths.

• Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD)
  At: No. 2 Peng Nguan Street, Singapore 168955
  Tel: 6323 2303
  Fax: 6323 7008
  e-mail
  

Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA) was formed to enhance the participation, welfare and integration of the disabled into the community. Membership is open to all persons aged between 16 and 60 years with physical disabilities.

• Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA)
  At: 16 Whampoa Drive, Singapore 327725
  Tel: 6254 3006
  

Touch Community Services (TCS) is a non-profit voluntary welfare organisation, set up in 1992. It runs programmes for people with developmental disabilities and hearing impairment.

• Touch Community Services (TCS)
  At: 3615 Jalan Bukit Merah, 3^rd Floor TOUCH Community Theatre, Singapore 159461
  Tel: 6377 0122
  

Presbyterian Community Services (PCS) runs Grace Orchard School at Boon Lay Avenue which caters to children with autism and mild intellectual disabilities. It also runs an integrated programme for preschool children with special needs at five of its childcare centres.

Christian Outreach for The Handicapped (COH) is an independent, inter-denominational Christian organisation which caters to autistic teenagers and adults with intellectual disabilities.

• Christian Outreach for The Handicapped (COH)
  At: 414 Tampines Street 41, #01-301, Singapore 520414
  Tel: 6787 3200
  e-mail
  

City Harvest LifeWorks runs a day activity centre for persons with intellectual disabilities. The centre conducts music appreciation, computer assisted learning, creative arts, craftwork and recreational programs. It also provides respite care for parents.

Many of the above mentioned associations also run support groups.

Further Information

• Disabled Persons Singapore (DPA) has the latest in disability news. DPA has a comprehensive site, which lists services, statistics and upcoming events for people with intellectual and/or physical disabilities: Click here
• For support groups and resources: Click here
• For information on EI (Early Intervention) education and IQ tests: Click here
• For local service providers: Click here
• Ministry of Education website on special education institutions in Singapore