When Sharlyne Lee, 16, graduates from St. Andrew’s Autism School (SAAS) in two years, she hopes to work as a jewellery designer or at a food and beverage outlet.
Through vocational skills training at the school, she has learnt to make bracelets and necklaces, and also help to prepare food and wash dishes.
President Halimah Yacob visited the school yesterday (24 September) and said that she hoped employers will design their workplaces for people with special needs.
She said: “If, from the very beginning, you have designed your workplace for people with different abilities, it gives you a great deal of flexibility to include our students with special needs who have gone through special education.”
During her tour of the premises, she visited Colours Cafe, an in-house school cafe run by SAAS students capable of work, so that they can develop skills to take up jobs in the future.
Started in 2016, the cafe lets the students take on roles and responsibilities such as manning the cashier and food preparation under their teachers’ supervision.
SAAS principal Diana Chin feels that it is also important to let the society know that these kids have a voice, their own character, personality, strengths and interests.
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Source: The Straits Times, 25 September 2019