SP Group donates S$700,000 to St Andrews Autism Centre for supported youth employment programmes
Dignity of Work will train beneficiaries in a structured and supportive environment tailored to their learning needs
[SINGAPORE] Utilities company SP Group donated S$700,000 to St Andrews Autism Centre (SAAC), presented through Community Chest. The funds will be used for supported employment programmes for young people with moderate autism.
The move is expected to benefit more than 400 youths and their caregivers, said SP Group and SAAC on Tuesday (Mar 25).
The pilot programme, called Dignity of Work, provides structured employment pathways for individuals with autism aged 18 and above. The first cohort of 12 trainees, who require substantial daily support, will be trained in a structured and supportive environment tailored to their learning needs.
Trainees will receive a full-year sponsorship to be employed in the food and beverage industry – particularly in baking. They have the potential to eventually gain permanent supported employment as assistant bakers, either within SAAC’s partner bakeries or in other baking establishments across Singapore.
The selected trainees are currently being assessed, and SAAC will work with vendor partners – which have not yet been revealed – in the industry.
Bernard Chew, chief executive of SAAC, said: “The (programme) provides hands-on training in baking and kitchen operations for the selected trainees. Trainees will work in the production kitchen under structured shifts. Ongoing job coaching will ensure that they receive personalised support to perform their job roles successfully.”
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Under Dignity of Work, there will be a job-coach-to-trainee ratio of 1:6. Work tasks – such as food preparation and packaging – will be simplified, while structured routines and visual cues will be utilised to help the trainees carry out their tasks.
Chew said: “(SAAC takes) a person-centred approach in our programmes, where we try to understand the unique challenges faced by persons with autism, and accommodate their needs appropriately.”
Part of the funding went towards upgrading SAAC’s three kitchen spaces at its Siglap campus, which will be utilised for Dignity of Work. These spaces have been refurbished to provide a more supportive and conducive learning environment for the trainees.
“The upgraded space includes clear workstations, visual cues and structured routines for meal preparation and clean-up. Essential equipment and safety modifications enhance accessibility and safety, allowing beneficiaries to develop life skills with greater independence,” he added.
The practical skills that trainees pick up will also help them be more independent. Chew noted that simple tasks such as meal preparation and cleaning up foster independence and allow them to help out at home.
Stanley Huang, group chief executive officer, SP Group said: “For children and youths with autism, our goal is to help them to be self-sustaining by uncovering their abilities and to foster independence into adulthood. This benefits not just the children and youths, but also their caregivers.”
“Post-18 cliff”
SP Group and SAAC said the programme helps to address the “post-18 cliff”.
Chew noted that the transition to adulthood for individuals with moderate autism remains deeply challenging, because there are few employment opportunities for them after they leave school.
Existing structured workshops – vocational training programmes on a shorter-term basis – are not designed for individuals with moderate autism, while national efforts to improve employability focus on individuals with mild autism. He added that many of those with moderate autism are not able to meet the demands of the traditional workplaces.
Chew said: “We need structured employment pathways with an understanding of conditions such as moderate autism taken into consideration. Otherwise, the alternative for these individuals is skill regression and consequently, social isolation after they leave school.”
Therefore, the Dignity of Work programme addresses the national shortage of post-school placements for youth with moderate autism.
A major difference between sheltered workshops and structured employment is that the latter looks at ways to integrate persons with disabilities into existing businesses.
“Curating work roles for persons with autism within these enterprises in such a way that accommodates their abilities ensures meaningful, sustainable employment that is long term.” Chew said.
“What we are doing here is a scalable and sustainable model of alternative employment for those with moderate autism. With the baking programme, we hope to see different efforts in different industries sprouting up over time.”
Chew noted that SAAC hopes to eventually establish a full-scale commercial bakery, in collaboration with its partners. Trainees can work alongside neuro-typical bakers under a structured employment model.
SP Group’s funding also went towards the St Andrew’s Adult Home Accessibility Fund, which currently serves 34 clients who require long-term residential care services. The funds cover the residents’ therapy programmes, training in daily life skills and medical expenses not covered by government schemes.
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