Our Stories

The End Caps Assembly Project began in a relatively humble manner in 2016.

By April 2019, about two and a half years after it first began, the project had grown significantly with 10 classes of SAAS students and several classes of Day Activity Centre (Siglap) [DAC (Siglap)] clients assembling 44,000 end caps and 86,000 top and bottom pads!

What is it like to share family life with a special sibling? Let’s get an inside look at the bond siblings share, with SAAC@Siblings4LIFE series.

Unlike most schools in Singapore, two teaching staff at St. Andrew’s Autism School would lead a small class size of six students. For about four and a half hours daily, during school terms, our teachers deliver the customised curriculum, helping our students develop functional, independent and daily living skills, nurturing each one holistically as our students focus on learning and growing.

Twenty-five individuals from different towns in Mizoram, Northeastern India, left their hometown in pursuit of a common goal – better lives and job opportunities – in a country they have never been before. That was in 2019.

Two years later, these individuals have grown and changed in more ways than one. From acclimatising to the culture, to overcoming challenges in caring for autistic individuals with varying behavioural issues, they have had their fair share of ups and downs.

Let’s meet Sety and Omomi, two of our care staff from a team comprising persevering individuals who are dedicated to nurturing and caring for our residents at St. Andrew’s Adult Home (Sengkang) [SAAH].

She observed the routines and movements of the staff, as she planned and waited patiently to execute her escape plan. Then unnoticed, she stole a staff uniform, dressed in it and duped the security guards as she made her way out of the secure facility. Natasha Romanov in a scene from the yet-to-be released Black Widow movie?

But this is not from a movie plot nor is it even fictional. This is true account of an adult on the autism spectrum who was then temporarily warded at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).

When the late Dr NK Yong walked into a room, it lit up. His quiet warmth and stately presence, felt. It was our honour at St. Andrew’s Autism Centre (SAAC) to have made his acquaintance, and our privilege to have been deeply touched by his giving.

“Looks like we’re not able to head out again today,” Coach Eve said to her teammates as she watched Xuan meltdown by slamming himself. This time, in reaction to the heat. Guiding Xuan back to the air-conditioned classroom, she had encouraged him to work on another activity, but with little success as Xuan had started becoming fixated on arranging the visual cues on his table.

Imagine that you are a non-speaking person with autism. Imagine what your day and reality is like. Imagine what it would be like to be supported to have a community rallying around you. That is what we are doing at St. Andrew’s Autism Centre (SAAC).

Work, in whatever form it takes, can provide autistic adults with dignified and meaningful engagement. Pre-vocational and vocational training opportunities are beneficial to all.