Guitar players
December 16, 2009 by Ivan ChewAbilities, not disabilities
November 25, 2009 by Ivan ChewCame across this blog post by Mathia Lee, who wrote how she was impressed by the efficiency and abilities of two persons with disabilities, and also the people who hired them:
When I went to the Vatican a few months ago I was super impressed. The guy who sold us tickets at the counter had 2 fingers only, and he was just handling all the transactions amazingly fast, no different from othr counters, and the queue was miles long but it cleared really fast.
The cloak room was run by just one guy and he had Downs’ syndrome (or some sort of other social disability) and everything was in perfect order, and so efficiently managed.
So I’m thinking:
It’s inevitable that some people, if not most, will see the Disability first before the person or their abilities. It could an unconscious act, really.
Which means a person with disability should try to show their abilities, as a way to counter (unconscious) prejudice. I would think this principle of showing one’s abilities (not “showing off” per se) applies to any body, regardless of physical or mental abilities.
Equally inevitable is that some people with physical disabilities deliberately present their disabilities first. Perhaps to appeal to other people’s emotions and sense of pity. Maybe these people think doing so is the only option for them. I’m not saying if this is right or wrong. Just thinking that this is also another fact.
We all have some disability in some ways. It’s only a matter of degree.
So in the end, it’s about our ability and how we choose to demonstrate it.
IT Apprenticeship Programme (ITAP) for persons with disabilities
November 25, 2009 by Ivan ChewReported at www.straitstimes.com, Oct 7, 2009, “Programme helps disabled” by Ang Yiying.
Mentions the IT Apprenticeship Programme (ITAP), started in 2008, that provides training and internships in corporate services, multimedia, or music and video production for people with disabilities.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_439407.html
[www.straitstimes.com T&C does not allow deeplinking]
More information about the ITAP at the Society for the Physically Disabled website:
The IT Apprenticeship Programme focuses on bridging the gap between IT training and employment for people with disabilities. ITAP develops each trainee’s competency and portfolio through modular IT and work training curriculum, participation in commercial projects and internships. ITAP trainees seeking employment can choose to train under the various apprenticeship tracks.
2 special education schools to provide vocational education programme in 2010
November 25, 2009 by Ivan ChewFrom www.channelnewsasia.com, 20 Nov 09:
SINGAPORE: Two special education schools will offer an accredited vocational education programme next year.
Metta School will cater to their students living in the East while Delta Senior School will have it for students in the West.
… Delta Senior School will have a new purpose-built school building in 2011.
It will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to support the vocational education programme.
It is also planning a second prototype which will put in a more structured phase of vocational preparation for students from as early as 14 years.
These efforts are part of a longer term plan to help students with mild intellectual disability get certified so they can be gainfully employed.
With the new programmes, it’s estimated that up to a quarter of such Special Education or “SPED” students will graduate with nationally recognized certification and relevant industrial skills…
MINDS opens new school in Woodlands
November 25, 2009 by Ivan ChewFrom www.channelnewsasia.com, 9 Oct 2009:
The Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) has opened a new school in Woodlands.
… Two hundred and ninety students and 250 vocational trainees attend classes there.
Travel slump hits MINDS trainees
November 25, 2009 by Ivan ChewReported at www.straitstimes.com, Oct 9, 2009, “Travel slump hits trainees” by Theresa Tan.
Article reports that 930 MINDS* trainees, who clean used-headsets for airlines, are affected by the global slump in air travel. Their allowance ($50 to $150 per month) dropped by 10%, as demand for recycled headsets fell.
Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_440318.html
[www.straitstimes.com T&C does not allow deeplinking]
* Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore
Dr Darren Chua: “I refuse to be disabled”
November 15, 2009 by Ivan ChewFrom health.asiaone.com/Health/Men%2527s%2BMatters/Story/A1Story20091109-178795.html (11 Nov 09). Story by Ng Wan Ching.
About Dr. Darren Chua, who suffered a stroke in 28 Apr 2000, at 24 years old. The stroke was caused by a ruptured arteriovenous malformation in his left brain. At the time of the story, Dr. Chua left one-year job with SingHealth to open an Education centre in Marine Parade in June of 2009.
He said: “If there is one thing I have drawn from these experiences, it is that persistence rules. No matter how many times I fell in the hospital, I always willed myself up because I refused to be in a wheelchair.
“No matter how many times I spelt or pronounced a word wrongly, I would attempt it again.”
He would not be treated as a disabled person.
Joystick Drive System for People with Disabilities
November 15, 2009 by Ivan ChewFrom the DigiInfo youtube channel (10 Nov ‘09):
LINK
MOE to provide more support to special education schools and teachers
November 13, 2009 by Ivan ChewFrom Channelnewsasia (13 Nov 09):
… The Ministry will offer scholarships to principals and key personnel of SPED schools from 2011 to enhance their professional expertise.
Up to 10 scholarships will be offered each year to non-graduate principals and key personnel to pursue degree-level training in special education.
And for those who are already graduates, two post-graduate scholarships will be offered yearly for them to pursue a Masters degree programme locally or overseas.
MOE will also provide sponsorships for SPED school psychologists in SPED to pursue the part-time Diploma in Educational Psychology at the National Institute of Education…
… And to enhance the administrative capacity of the schools, MOE will introduce the post of Administration Manager from next year.
See also: “Scholarships for special education teachers”, Nov 17, 2009.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20091116-180291.html
[www.straitstimes.com T&C does not allow deeplinking]
Special Needs Trust company
November 2, 2009 by Ivan ChewFrom the Special Needs Trust company – www.specialneedstrust.org.sg:
SNTC is the only non-profit trust company in Singapore set up to provide trust services for the benefit of persons with special needs.
The Insolvency and Public Trustee’s Office (“Public Trustee”) is entrusted to invest and manage the trust funds. SNTC will administer the funds according to a care plan, set out in a **Letter of Intent tailored to the needs of the Beneficiary under the trust.
SNTC is jointly supported by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and National Council of Social Service (NCSS).
**The Letter of Intent is a future care plan that sets out various aspects of the well being of the Beneficiary such as accommodation, daily living needs (food, clothing, transport etc), educational needs, employment and training needs, medical and dental needs, professional support needs and other areas of concern.
Related news: CNA story (13 Nov ‘09) “Company to help set up trust funds for special needs children in 2009“:
Dr Balakrishnan said: “This is a collaborative effort by MCYS, NCSS and the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS).
“This comes on the heels of a new law passed in September to allow Singaporeans to appoint someone to take care of matters before they become mentally incapacitated.
“Parents can tap on this change in the law to appoint a representative to make decisions for their intellectually disabled children.”
With the help of the company, parents can tailor a package to cover their children’s needs, like training and healthcare.
