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Post-School Life for Individuals with Autism in Singapore



The number of graduating SPED school students have increased at a 5% average for the past 3 years in Singapore. What could life look like after?
The number of graduating SPED school students have increased at a 5% average for the past 3 years in Singapore. What could life look like after?

“Congratulations!! You have graduated!!” – for most of us, this marks a celebration and transition into a new phase of life. However, for people with autism and their caregivers, this may mark the start of more worries about their future. The “post-18 cliff effect” (Ng, 2023) is a looming concern, as the number of graduating SPED school students has been increasing at a 5% average for the past three years (Shafeeq, 2023). Many of these young adults with autism lack the capabilities for open employment, leading to uncertainties about how they would navigate life – especially when their caregivers pass on or are no longer able to provide care for them.


To counter this issue, the Enabling Masterplan 2030 was published to better direct future efforts towards addressing the needs of those on the spectrum. It contains recommendations for early intervention, learning, living, and working. As of 2024, there have been 2 Enabling Hubs set up (MSF, 2024):

  • Enabling Service Hub (Tampines, Punggol) – provides continual learning, social activities, and respite care. Partner organisations also offer community activities at these hubs.

  • Enabling Business Hub (Jurong): This hub partners with inclusive employers in the logistics industry and provides employment services such as vocational assessment, inclusive training, job matching, and post-placement job support.


Besides the upcoming projects under Enabling Masterplan 2030, listed below are existing programmes and options for people with autism:


  1. Adult Disability Homes (ADH).

ADHs provide long-term residential care and short-term respite care for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), as well as recreational and training activities (Enabling Guide, 2024d). This option is most suitable for those with high support needs, and who do not have a caregiver. Each adult home caters to a specific primary service group and provides differing professional support services, which you can check here: https://www.enablingguide.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/adh-service-matrix.pdf


  1. Day Activity Centres (DAC).

DACs provide training in daily living skills and community living skills to foster independence, as well as social and recreational activities (Enabling Guide, 2024a; Ng, 2023). Behavioural intervention and therapy are also available at selected centres (Enabling Guide, 2024a). This is most suitable for those with low or medium support needs who are not ready to work. However, it is worth noting that the admission wait time can be anywhere from a month up to 5 years (Ang, 2024; Ng, 2023), and turnover rates can be low in comparison to the application rate.


  1. ‘Dignity of Work’ Programme.

Initiated by St. Andrew Autism Centre in 2024, this programme provides supported employment for individuals with moderate autism. They are currently partnered with BlueAcres, an aquaponic farming company. Participants of the programme learn to manage the farms alongside their colleagues and receive a monthly salary (Ang, 2024). They are provided specific support where required, such as having visual cues for the farming processes, and a good community in the form of supportive colleagues and bosses (Ang, 2024).


  1. Sheltered Workshops.

Sheltered Workshops offer employment and vocational training in simple jobs or tasks that have been broken down into simpler steps, with some places providing job support services and attachments (Enabling Guide, 2024b). Selected workshops also partner with employers to provide a 1-year transition programme into open employment for individuals who are assessed to be suitable. They will receive customised training both at the workshop and at the employer’s premises, as well as job matching (Enabling Guide, 2024c).



References

Pexels. (2022, June 25). Silhouette of people raising their graduation hats [Photograph]. Pexels. https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-of-people-raising-their-graduation-hats-8093032/


Ang, S. (2024, March 28). 5 agencies to hold open houses for firms keen to support adults with autism. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/call-for-employers-to-tour-social-service-agencies-support-adults-with-autism-facing-post-18-cliff 





Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). (2024, April 2). Enabling masterplan 2030: yearly updates. https://www.msf.gov.sg/what-we-do/enabling-masterplans/emp2030/yearly-updates 


Ng, D. (2023, April 5). Professionals call for more support to integrate people on autism spectrum into workplaces. CAN. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/autism-spectrum-workplaces-employment-post-18-cliff-inclusivity-3396121


Shafeeq, S. (2023, April 2). More help for those on autism spectrum after age 18. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-help-for-those-on-autism-spectrum-after-age-18


St. Andrew’s Autism Centre. (n.d(a)). St Andrew's adult home. https://www.saac.org.sg/saah/


St. Andrew’s Autism Centre. (n.d(b)). Empower adults with autism through dignity of work. https://www.saac.org.sg/dac/dignityofwork/ 


Volkmar, F. R., Wolf, J. M. (2013, March 7). When children with autism become adults. World Psychiatry, 12(1), 79-80. https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fwps.20020 

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