“It’s like an arranged marriage!” Reverend David Teo says of his vocation as a Chaplain. “You get married first, and then fall in love later.” Pastor David, as he is known among our staff, beneficiaries and their caregivers at St Andrew’s Autism Centre (SAAC), is also our Chaplain. He is an Anglican priest with The…
Blue hearts are springing up all over St. Andrew’s Autism Centre (SAAC). These exquisite artworks are a testament to the love, imagination and resilience of more than 100 pupils from St. Andrew’s Autism School (SAAS). Guided by art teachers Jaslyn Seow and Angelia Ang, the youngsters, aged between 9 and 16 years, took time out…
This is a follow-on post from Kasper’s account of his first camping trip, as shared by his mom, Jasmine (pictured left in photo) “When Kasper asked me about going to camp, I was worried but only a little. He is my youngest child and has never been away from me. But I trusted his teachers…
Kasper (pictured 3rd from right in photo) has been attending SAAS since he was 7 years old. Now 18, he graduates in November. He tells us about going to his first camp, and how it has made him more confident about travelling overseas. “I am Kasper Gwee. I am 18 this year. I am the…
There’s more to communication than words, says Caleb [left]. Pictures and symbols are crucial too. “I chose to specialise in speech and language therapy because it allows me to serve people with children. I love kids and have always enjoyed helping to take care of them. “A good speech and language therapist requires 2 Ps.…
Marisa’s admiration for our beneficiaries’ simplicity and intelligence strengthened her resolve to contribute. Her home bakery business donates 5% of sales to SAAC. [Right: with David Matthew Fong, head of Strategic Partnerships & Volunteer Management] “In 2023, after more than two decades of navigating the complexities of the corporate world, I made a life-altering decision.…
In the previous two posts, we learnt about challenging behaviours caregivers to children with autism may encounter and why they occur. Let’s delve into some strategies to prevent and manage challenging behaviours at home. Positive Behaviour Support is a set of strategies used to increase quality of life and decrease behaviour challenges by teaching new…
This is the 2nd post of our 3-parter Caregiver Series. Why does your loved one with autism display certain challenging behaviours? Understanding the functions of behaviours is the first step in helping them respond more appropriately. (Note: The examples stated below may not apply to all children as the contest of their behaviours may vary.)…
This post is part of a special series on challenging behaviours Persons with Autism (PWAs) and their caregivers may experience. These behaviours can interfere with their daily living and impact their quality of life. What are some challenging behaviours in PWAs?– Danger to self/others: Includes pinching, scratching, hitting and biting.– Property destruction: For example breaking…
“Why don’t you send him to IMH?” “So you have a genius in the family!” These are just some of the comments that a person with autism may encounter on a regular basis. Andrew Ang, father of 17-year-old Alex who is a student at St. Andrew’s Autism School, he can understand why certain misconceptions persist,…