SUN-DAC was set up in 1990 to provide care for people with intellectual disability (PwID) in a Day Activity Centre setting. Their clients are mainly persons with varying intellectual, physical, mental, sensory, and learning disabilities between the age of 16 and 60 years.
SUN-DAC provides training to enable persons with disability to learn basic independent daily living skills, community living skills, social skills and simple vocational activities. Other types of training include the use of community resources to empower and integrate them back into the community.
NTU Welfare Services Club Regular Service Project (Intellectually Disabled) (RSPID) collaborated with SUN-DAC, in its 10-week Circles Programme which aims to raise awareness of intellectual disability and allow beneficiaries to interact with members of the general public.
Over the course of the past semester, volunteers from RSPID not only befriended clients from SUN-DAC, but were also outstanding NTU ambassadors as they brought them around campus to participate in fun and interesting activities.
The Circles Programme has been both a fulfilling and meaningful experience for both volunteers and clients of SUN-DAC.
The Highlights
Lunch Treats
To end the Circles Programme on a high note for this semester, the volunteers planned a sumptuous lunch session for seven clients of SUN-DAC on 11 April 2017. They were brought to NTU’s latest dining destination, “Top Pot Steamboat & Mookata” at Tanjong Hall.
Needless to say, the clients were beaming with smiles and filled with pure excitement as it was a refreshing dining experience – they had the rare opportunity to cook their own meal!
Volunteers were patiently guiding the clients during the preparation process and ensured that the food were fully cooked before consumption. The key idea was to make the whole experience as natural as possible – like how we would be at hotpot restaurants with our family and friends.
Kudos to the outstanding volunteers for committing time despite their heavy academic workload, to create a positive impact in the lives of the clients!
The Memories
Reflection #1 – The Challenges
Concerned With Personal Injury
As the session involved cooking with direct heat, there were concerns that the clients would scald themselves. Hence, the volunteers also ensured the clients’ safety throughout the cooking process.
Perceptions of Other Diners
As we did not reserve the whole restaurant exclusively for our session, there were also concerns that other diners would feel uncomfortable (ie. dining with PwIDs). During the session, one of our volunteers went to a nearby table and spoke to them. We were prepared to make contingency plans if the unforeseen happened. Fortunately, the diners at the table were fine with it, and in fact, supportive of the session too!
Reflection #2 – The Takeaways
Experienced Volunteers
The organisers from SUN-DAC provided positive feedback with regards to the programme. They were impressed with our participating volunteers, who were experienced and provided good and interesting ideas for activities.
Diverse Group of Volunteers
In order to give everyone a chance to participate in such meaningful programmes, volunteers without prior experience with PwIDs will be recruited for future programme runs.
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