Early integration of people with disabilities is a possible way to raise their employment rate.
People with disabilities usually attend special schools and therefore many people in the public are encountering them for the first time in their workplace. As such, this may create a lack of understanding and communication between both parties.
The Government will spend $400 million this year in 2017, on persons with disabilities. This sum will cover existing programmes as well as new ones, such as the expansion of job training initiatives for graduates of special schools.
Non-governmental organisations (NGO) such as SPD and Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) calls for companies to invest in infrastructure and willingness to accept guidance (e.g. NGOs to show models, systems, possibilities and success that employment and work can be done for people with autism), so as to increase its attractiveness to hire these persons with disabilities. The Government is also considering ways the civil service can hire those with disabilities.
The Enabling Village is a community space run by SG Enable, where those with disabilities can shop, access services and attend training. SG Enable has been training beneficiaries and matching them with jobs. “More than 65 students from special education schools have successfully transitioned into employment or internship”, said its chief executive Ku Geok Boon.
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Source: The Sunday Times, 5 March 2017