After 2 years of joining AC, some things still don't change, there are a few issues that our country's (Singapore's) special needs community as a whole may still not resolve at the moment, so that we can contribute to our country better:
1. Higher education
Singapore's universities, especially the autonomous universities such as NTU and NUS (the two local public universities in Singapore), are the pride of our nation. They are research-intensive universities that bring in ideas from all over the world to create new positive ideas for all of us, in Singapore, Asia and the world. Some capable people with special needs do really want to be part of the force that serves Singapore and Asia, with the unique ideas we bring.
However, Singapore may not offer its students accommodations for special needs students like they do in the United States and Australia, possibly due to a lack of experience with students with special needs.
Should students with special needs, especially autism, consider moving overseas for further studies, since straight B or C grades in A Levels or its equivalent enable us to get into more suitable universities overseas for them? Or should such students stop thinking of university after completing, say, O Levels, if they do make it thus far, and focus on getting a polytechnic diploma and then, subsequently, a job?
Personally, my parents do encourage me to complete A Levels because they think I can make it to the NTU Biomedical Sciences-Traditional Chinese Medicine course, because I can be a Chinese physician like them. They accept that Accountancy is a good alternative for me, but I am quite flustered with their insensitive comments, 'oh, I think you can make a good sinseh if you had read more books on traditional Chinese philosophy', 'oh, cooking can improve your motor skills'. ********! I can cook but I know given my psychiatric disorders, it's hard to be a competent Chinese physician. It could be much better for me to be, say, a teacher, than to be a Chinese physician.
I hoped I have not been unreasonable.
2. Employment - People with psychiatric disorders and developmental disorders (e.g. Autism and AD/HD) are discouraged from seeking employment in the SAF and the Civil Service.
So if Aspies can't be commandos or public policy makers, will Aspies be shut out in the defending of our nation and the moulding of the government actions that affect our lives?
1. Higher education
Singapore's universities, especially the autonomous universities such as NTU and NUS (the two local public universities in Singapore), are the pride of our nation. They are research-intensive universities that bring in ideas from all over the world to create new positive ideas for all of us, in Singapore, Asia and the world. Some capable people with special needs do really want to be part of the force that serves Singapore and Asia, with the unique ideas we bring.
However, Singapore may not offer its students accommodations for special needs students like they do in the United States and Australia, possibly due to a lack of experience with students with special needs.
Should students with special needs, especially autism, consider moving overseas for further studies, since straight B or C grades in A Levels or its equivalent enable us to get into more suitable universities overseas for them? Or should such students stop thinking of university after completing, say, O Levels, if they do make it thus far, and focus on getting a polytechnic diploma and then, subsequently, a job?
Personally, my parents do encourage me to complete A Levels because they think I can make it to the NTU Biomedical Sciences-Traditional Chinese Medicine course, because I can be a Chinese physician like them. They accept that Accountancy is a good alternative for me, but I am quite flustered with their insensitive comments, 'oh, I think you can make a good sinseh if you had read more books on traditional Chinese philosophy', 'oh, cooking can improve your motor skills'. ********! I can cook but I know given my psychiatric disorders, it's hard to be a competent Chinese physician. It could be much better for me to be, say, a teacher, than to be a Chinese physician.
I hoped I have not been unreasonable.
2. Employment - People with psychiatric disorders and developmental disorders (e.g. Autism and AD/HD) are discouraged from seeking employment in the SAF and the Civil Service.
So if Aspies can't be commandos or public policy makers, will Aspies be shut out in the defending of our nation and the moulding of the government actions that affect our lives?
