This post came out from The Straits Times (3 November 2016)
Students with special needs will receive more help to support
them beyond graduation through a guide and training scheme. From next year ,
all special education (Sped) schools will receive a guide titled Transition
Planning For Living, Learning And Working - Making It Happen, to help students
with setting post-school goals.
"Careful planning and preparation is important
for such students and their families," said the Ministry of Education
(MOE) yesterday in a statement, acknowledging the challenges of transiting out
of school, especially for Sped students. Sped schools will therefore work more
closely with their students from the age of 13, as well as their families, and
help link them up with relevant services after they graduate. For instance,
students could have individual transition plans that would help them see which
pathways best fit their interests.
Meanwhile, a programme to help Sped students find
work has borne some fruit, said MOE, the Ministry of Social and Family
Development, and disabilities support agency SG Enable yesterday. Of the 30
students who joined the school-to-work transition programme, which started in
2014, 24 found a job, with 20 staying employed for at least six months. The
government agencies' statement said students who took part felt they had a
sense of self-worth in being able to earn an income and contribute to their
families.
Parents said the programme helped their children
acquire work skills, more self-confidence and independence, while employers
reported that their staff developed more positive attitudes towards people with
disabilities. The programme started in 2014 with students from five schools -
Pathlight School, APSN Delta Senior School, Grace Orchard School, Metta School
and Minds Woodlands Gardens School.
It begins in the year of graduation and lasts for up
to a year after that. SG Enable and schools identify students with the
potential to work and match them with job training based on their interests.
They also receive support from job coaches.
Thoughts anyone?
Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big
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