Written by Keng Ann Yap, Tigris and another contributor in a forum, but I have to share these views here because it's simply too controversial to be put on a thread.
A friend of mine asked me for my views about this article which offers an insight into the challenges faced by young people with special needs. So here, I hope to get other parents (or even the cousins*) to participate in this discussion.
*In one of the responses posted together with the article, the biological cousin of the writer explained that people with physical disabilities and special needs sometimes call each other "cousins".
When I first heard of the term "JC-PDSN Community" about 2 to 3 weeks ago, I wasn't quite sure what that refers to. I now learnt that it actually refers to the 'community of young people (studying in junior colleges, or Singapore's Pre-University preparatory high schools) with physical disability or special needs'.
The community includes past and present students.
By "PDSN", it includes all physical and non-physical conditions: dyslexia, autism and visual impairment and so on.
Challenges
Different segment of people with special needs has their unique challenges.
According to what I was told, "JC PDSNs" cannot get any help from current welfare organisations and schemes as they are considered "not disabled" enough, although they do really need help. Alone as a group, they are left to 'fight their own battles to overcome their conditions and to suffer emotional damage from various mistreatments' by the mainstream community.
The existing support systems have left them out. In one example that was given to me, a secondary school student is referred to OT, the OT said she only provide therapy for younger children and with lower functioning. The OT did not think the referred client requires OT, just on the basis of his grades. (Personal note: Facepalm)
There are other significant challenges especially in employment. The author of the "FSWUYI" article wrote about her experience of discrimination when finding a part-time job. (Of which I do also face personally)
Another friend who is also a member in the "JC PDSNs" community wrote to me, saying that they really need to work harder than their peers because they have to find a niche spot where we can contribute to the Singapore economy, and at the same time, working hard to overcome our limits.
In the article, I also read with grave concern - bullying. The author wrote particularly about some students called her names, stole her crutches and national servicemen who deliberately trigger her cousin into fits.
How to deal with this ?
Personally, I believe there are issues out there faced by this group of people and we have to look into and find solution to address. Right now, as I begin to discuss with my friends on this, I am only trying to understand more.
I was invited to more than one feedback sessions when they were preparing the second Enabling Masterplan. Parents were invited to participate, and I now recall that the parents of this group of young people seemed to be missing.
I hope we can do something for them. And in order to understand the situation and find the solution, I hope they can step forward as well - because there should be a better way than "fighting your own battle alone". I am talking about measures may not even be covered by the current Enabling Masterplan.
How do we deal with the issue of "bully" ? The situation and counter measure for primary school would be different from that in secondary school, and post-secondary and tertiary.
What about during national service ? The Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence are certainly not mentioned in any of the 41 recommendations in the current Enabling Masterplan.
Dilemma
Young people with special needs (particularly those with high-function autism, as the condition is not visible) like their adult counterparts and parents of children with special needs often prefer not to speak up openly as they do not want to reveal their condition.
For so long as there are real and perceived discrimination exist in our society they will continue to prefer to deal with the challenges by themselves alone without voicing out. However, it is the voicing out loud that can promote awareness, understanding and dissipate discrimination in the society.
It is basically a situation where some disadvantaged Singaporeans have to prove themselves to be able, to get acceptance from those who matter in society, yet they themselves need much more acceptance than society gives to them, for them to be given more opportunities in society, to be more able.
Singaporeans with special needs, as a whole, is a diverse group. Needless to say, some of us can do well in school. But, at least according to current Ministry of Education policies, at least 75% of these people do not get the chance to progress to university. This is a really serious concern. We cannot just brush off highly able people, who are either not being able to do well in schools, or have other non-academic skills.
I cannot deny that highly able PDSNs from both JCs and even polytechnics need more support, as we try to add value to Singaporean society.
In the article, note that not much is mentioned about ITE. Yes, those ITE people bully those heading to JCs. So what about those HFAs who go to ITEs, and are good at what they are doing? Do we not support them, and become closer to becoming useful, contributing members of society?
Do we just rob them off the opportunities in life to get accepted as they are, in life? Do we just waste their potentials in our resource-scarce lands?
The issue of bullying and prejudice both root from a lack of acceptance, due to perceived misconceptions that Aspies should be part of their own world, and are both a threat and a distraction to their standing in society. So how can we be seen as positive forces of society, how can we add more perceived value than costs?
As I have walked about and continue to meet new people, I have heard that ITE do have PDSNs as well. So the term that JC PDSN need help is a wrong term to use. All people with special needs all need some form of support, regardless where they study. It is saddening and heartbreaking to see that a fellow special needs person decides to persecute their own kind because of where they study.
Just because I am not the type who can do academically, doesn't make me a bad person or vice versa.
Special needs and learning disability does not discriminate.
A friend of mine asked me for my views about this article which offers an insight into the challenges faced by young people with special needs. So here, I hope to get other parents (or even the cousins*) to participate in this discussion.
*In one of the responses posted together with the article, the biological cousin of the writer explained that people with physical disabilities and special needs sometimes call each other "cousins".
When I first heard of the term "JC-PDSN Community" about 2 to 3 weeks ago, I wasn't quite sure what that refers to. I now learnt that it actually refers to the 'community of young people (studying in junior colleges, or Singapore's Pre-University preparatory high schools) with physical disability or special needs'.
The community includes past and present students.
By "PDSN", it includes all physical and non-physical conditions: dyslexia, autism and visual impairment and so on.
Challenges
Different segment of people with special needs has their unique challenges.
According to what I was told, "JC PDSNs" cannot get any help from current welfare organisations and schemes as they are considered "not disabled" enough, although they do really need help. Alone as a group, they are left to 'fight their own battles to overcome their conditions and to suffer emotional damage from various mistreatments' by the mainstream community.
The existing support systems have left them out. In one example that was given to me, a secondary school student is referred to OT, the OT said she only provide therapy for younger children and with lower functioning. The OT did not think the referred client requires OT, just on the basis of his grades. (Personal note: Facepalm)
There are other significant challenges especially in employment. The author of the "FSWUYI" article wrote about her experience of discrimination when finding a part-time job. (Of which I do also face personally)
Another friend who is also a member in the "JC PDSNs" community wrote to me, saying that they really need to work harder than their peers because they have to find a niche spot where we can contribute to the Singapore economy, and at the same time, working hard to overcome our limits.
In the article, I also read with grave concern - bullying. The author wrote particularly about some students called her names, stole her crutches and national servicemen who deliberately trigger her cousin into fits.
How to deal with this ?
Personally, I believe there are issues out there faced by this group of people and we have to look into and find solution to address. Right now, as I begin to discuss with my friends on this, I am only trying to understand more.
I was invited to more than one feedback sessions when they were preparing the second Enabling Masterplan. Parents were invited to participate, and I now recall that the parents of this group of young people seemed to be missing.
I hope we can do something for them. And in order to understand the situation and find the solution, I hope they can step forward as well - because there should be a better way than "fighting your own battle alone". I am talking about measures may not even be covered by the current Enabling Masterplan.
How do we deal with the issue of "bully" ? The situation and counter measure for primary school would be different from that in secondary school, and post-secondary and tertiary.
What about during national service ? The Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence are certainly not mentioned in any of the 41 recommendations in the current Enabling Masterplan.
Dilemma
Young people with special needs (particularly those with high-function autism, as the condition is not visible) like their adult counterparts and parents of children with special needs often prefer not to speak up openly as they do not want to reveal their condition.
For so long as there are real and perceived discrimination exist in our society they will continue to prefer to deal with the challenges by themselves alone without voicing out. However, it is the voicing out loud that can promote awareness, understanding and dissipate discrimination in the society.
It is basically a situation where some disadvantaged Singaporeans have to prove themselves to be able, to get acceptance from those who matter in society, yet they themselves need much more acceptance than society gives to them, for them to be given more opportunities in society, to be more able.
Singaporeans with special needs, as a whole, is a diverse group. Needless to say, some of us can do well in school. But, at least according to current Ministry of Education policies, at least 75% of these people do not get the chance to progress to university. This is a really serious concern. We cannot just brush off highly able people, who are either not being able to do well in schools, or have other non-academic skills.
I cannot deny that highly able PDSNs from both JCs and even polytechnics need more support, as we try to add value to Singaporean society.
In the article, note that not much is mentioned about ITE. Yes, those ITE people bully those heading to JCs. So what about those HFAs who go to ITEs, and are good at what they are doing? Do we not support them, and become closer to becoming useful, contributing members of society?
Do we just rob them off the opportunities in life to get accepted as they are, in life? Do we just waste their potentials in our resource-scarce lands?
The issue of bullying and prejudice both root from a lack of acceptance, due to perceived misconceptions that Aspies should be part of their own world, and are both a threat and a distraction to their standing in society. So how can we be seen as positive forces of society, how can we add more perceived value than costs?
As I have walked about and continue to meet new people, I have heard that ITE do have PDSNs as well. So the term that JC PDSN need help is a wrong term to use. All people with special needs all need some form of support, regardless where they study. It is saddening and heartbreaking to see that a fellow special needs person decides to persecute their own kind because of where they study.
Just because I am not the type who can do academically, doesn't make me a bad person or vice versa.
Special needs and learning disability does not discriminate.
