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Here is my main impressive takeaway or insight from the last session.
Usually, we tend to put more attention on the intervention and support for children with disabilities. While in daily life, I'm not sure about that in SG, but in China, you can rarely see adults with disabilities outside, which actually gives people the illusion that although many children suffered from some disabilities, it seems that when they grow up, their disabilities just disappear. However, the truth is they have often languished at home for years as they were unable to work. The reasons may come from society's less support, poor physical condition, afraid of being discriminated and so on.
Even among those who were schooled when they were young. Worse, when they become adults or get older and older, it's very likely they may not have anyone to care for them. That's terrible! MSF in SG will provide support for these people. What about China? We have a  lot of provinces and each of them has imbalanced economical developing levels. I dare not think of it anymore...
Additionally, when I read this, as I'm not a teacher in a special school, I asked myself if I knew some of my students can't adapt to society and live independently in the end. What feelings would I have? Maybe at some point, I'll feel depressed, frustrated, or guilty for not being helpful. Meanwhile, I think teachers devoted to SE are great and respectful.

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This session was informative and an eye-opener as I feel that there is a lack of awareness on persons with disabilities especially in mainstream schools. As I browsed through the resource portal, it has an interesting layout as to cater for disability professionals. The page can be in set to dark mode or normal setting, the font size can be adjusted to support those with visual issues. This may be not significant to normal people like us but it shows that small things can make a difference to others.
I share the same sentiments with the rest that we can do more in mainstream schools as well as in sped sector. Perhaps, a collaboration between sped and nominated student ambassadors from secondary schools may be a good platform to start this awareness.

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Inclusion is a long term plan, and Singapore has come a long way in terms of inclusion. As people working in the sector, we always have issues, concerns and sharing’s on what more can be done and opinion’s that this is not enough. However, when we look back at things, we cannot deny that we have come a long way. So Good job Everyone!

With all our enriching discussion throughout the course a common issue that has come to light now is the lack of support for SPED adults. I am glad to know that such issues have been addressed in the new enabling masterplan.

Not only that, I completely agree that it really takes a whole country to raise SPED kids; and the first step to that is increasing the awareness. I watched the video discussion among parents and something the parents shared that I really agree with is in public places when you see kids having a meltdown/tantrum and parents managing or trying to manage them just ask if they need help. Instead of judging or staring and stuff. This is a common practice among teachers in SPED schools as well. When you see teachers dealing with kids we will always ask “are you ok? Do you need help?” so why not do it outside and set the example for others to follow.

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My main takeaway from the session is the importance of advocacy. Advocacy is a critical component of promoting inclusivity for individuals with special needs. By working together, the community can advocate for policies and initiatives that promote inclusivity and protect the rights of individuals with special needs. Through these efforts, we can create a more equitable and inclusive society, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed. I believe that parents of children with special needs can play one of the most important role in advocacy efforts to promote inclusivity and in protecting the rights of individuals with special needs.

Singapore has definitely come a long way in terms of providing support for our children and adults with disabilities. However, despite these efforts, there is still more that needs to be done to promote inclusivity and support for individuals with disabilities in Singapore. For example, although there are initiatives in place to promote employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, many still face significant barriers to employment. Stigma and discrimination continue to be major challenges, and many employers are still reluctant to hire individuals with disabilities.

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As a country, through the Enabling Masterplans, more focus and resources have been directed to meet the needs of differently abled persons in Singapore. The outcomes and the processes to develop each plan have evolved...indicating that we have perhaps understood the needs better and/or is now, in a better position (e.g. financial, expert resources) to meet these needs ? Regardless, we have progressed.

On the ground, I hope intervention/support services will be delivered based on a more person-centred approach (beyond recording the ICP…), rather than a service-centred approach. This may be possible via more collaboration amongst the professional community or even, cross-training. Initially, this may seem like a more expensive approach, but I believe that as the community transforms, many ‘fringe needs’ may be met without having the recipient/family search or wait. Then less children will fall through the cracks, making ‘early’ intervention more effective...?

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From the reading and sharing, it is heartening to see the progress that Singapore has made in creating awareness about people with special needs in our community and started platforms such as SGEnable to provide resources and access to people with special needs and their families.
While it would take time for more progress in the allocation of resources, amenities and services to support adults with special needs, the Enabling Master Plan Strategic Theme II: Enable Persons with Disabilities to Live Independently, brings hope to families and caregivers about their SEN child's well being and possibility of independent living; enhancing their quality of life.

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After viewing the lesson and videos, there is a great reminder of the empathy and understanding that is needed especially for caregivers. More so for caregivers of children with SEN as the struggle is real and many has gave up their day job and even dreams to support their children.

It is heartening to know that we have moved much in the area of bringing awareness to the society and the support that the government and various agencies are giving.  But the sad reality may be that it is still not enough.  Policies will need to continue to change especially in the area of financial support.

Once again the mentioning of strength identification is so important and to help one another to bring about the right support to everyone in the eco system of the children/adult.

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(re-posting as my previous post disappeared!)

My biggest takeaway from the last session's discussions is that there is a need to balance 1) being able to acknowledge positive strides taken towards a more inclusive Singapore and 2) constructively critiquing the existing gaps and cracks.

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The session was very informative and hopeful towards the future of supporting persons with disabilities and needs. After reading up, it was heartening to see that the government have been pumping in more resources and focus in the special needs sector. This will definitely benefit caregivers as well. Because caregiver for burnout is so real. With more support and more acceptance more inclusivity, together, it will bring about more benefits and better for outcomes for sure. For example the use of technology and assistive devices can also help people with disabilities or needs to become more independent eventually.

The enabling masterplan brings about very hopeful future for the sector and hopefully the whole country will be more aware and mindful too.

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Reading up on the Enabling Masterplan was very comforting to know that more awareness and initiatives are being set in place to support Early Childhood educators and children. Being that Early Childhood is a crucial window of opportunity for our children, with this additional resources and EI services, it'll definitely provide a boost of hope for future educators who may not know how to implement inclusive practices, and for more children to have access EI services should neccessary.

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It is heartening to know that there are many efforts and initiatives that are emerging to support PWDs. It is good to know that not only the young/children are being supported, but the older adults as well. Singapore might not be big, but efforts also start from communities. It will be nice to see communities coming together to raise awareness and provide support, not just in organisations but the heartlands. There is definitely more awareness now, and we are moving towards greater acceptance of PWDs. However, I do think there is a need to be aware the difference between sympathy and inclusion.

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Reading the Enabling Master Plan and the vision Singapore has for 2030, I must say it is very promising. A lot of what we have discussed in class, issues we raised such as more community living, making resources more available was addressed. It makes it all the more authentic because these gaps were raised by people with disabilities and their caregivers as well.

I do feel that we can do more in mainstream schools though. Although there are TSNs, SEN Officers and CMTs, there are schools that are still struggling with a whole school inclusive culture. My school for example, it's still challenging to engage TSNs to do more. And it is a systemic issue because doing more for SEN means reducing their overall workload for the masses.

Nonetheless, with this nationwide efforts to make Singapore more inclusive, I hope to see that trinkling into our mainstream schools because we have a voice to raise awareness within our schools and to educate the young ones on what that truly means.

Additionally, I was happy to read about the initiatives to come for adults with disabilities. That continuous efforts needs to be ongoing because their needs and challenges changes over time. As such, a good support system beyond family is much needed.

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Even the smallest step forward, is a step towards progress. We are often unaware of the difficulties and challenges faced by others unless we take upon their perspectives. This sharing made me more aware and sensitive towards the needs of others including caregivers and other needs educator. The conversations of the areas for improvement and progress must continue so that more can be done and even more can benefit. There will always be areas that need more help than others but together we can do a lot more. Let's work towards a more inclusive society where everybody chips in from within.

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There are many gaps and issues within the sped sector, however this will always be the case as similar to other social problems. Progression is an indicator of a thriving society, and as long there is progression, things will be better. Society have
to view problems in a larger picture. For example, many would assume that there are not enough resources set aside for the sped sector. However, there are other potential issues such as attraction of talents and manpower into the sector.

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My main takeaway from yesterday's discussions is that it is important to strike a balance between 1) recognising the positive strides Singapore has taken towards inclusion and 2) identifying the gaps and cracks that still exist. Acknowledging only the former can make us complacent, while acknowledging only the latter can make us overly pessimistic. A critical and hopeful stance requires both!

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Singapore has made significant progress in supporting people with disabilities, but there is still room for improvement.

Compared to Malaysia, Singapore has a more well-designed system for caring for children with special needs (e.g., the development of SG Enable, EIC, SPED school, Enabling masterplan etc.). However, it is still a concern about where people with disabilities can go when they leave the education system. Because not all of them can be employed and maintain employment. Nevertheless, it is still encouraging to know that there are people willing to work hard to support them better. I agree with the phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child with disability, a village is not sufficient, it takes a country". The community must continue to work together to achieve a better outcome.

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We started the discussion talking about how there are gaps in services provided for children and adults with disabilities, but when we came to talk about the enabling masterplan, we realized that we actually made a lot of progress in the past 10 years as a nation. Looking at our past progress (e.g. strengthening our early intervention services and school system), we can have hope that by 2030 we will make progress to become a even more inclusive society. I am also glad that the voices of the special needs community are heard, and that one of the focus of our enabling masterplan is to work towards services and support for adults with disabilities.

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It is indeed true that we have come a long way! With more research and awareness, there is hope for everyone. I enjoyed reading the Enabling Masterplan and was quite excited for the upcoming plans to empower not only ourselves to be better, but PWD as well. We should each other as one, instead of different people.

The discussion on empowering vs emphasizing is a good point to think about. I believe in that but I have friends who think otherwise, glad to know that my views are similar to others. I also enjoyed the sharing from the group activity and learning that there are future, jobs and development for everyone is truly comforting

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The sharing today was very insightful.  While we talk about starting young, the ie centres are quite full and there are waitlists over a year for kids who need help. The sped schools have a high waitlist too and this continues as kids exit schools and have limited opportunities is getting and staying employed.

However even as it sounds hectic, this lanscape is much improved from the options children with SEN had ten years ago. Im glad our government has the financial resources to plant into sen and im glad that they're continuously choosing the improve the landscape.

The sg enable website is a great resource for parents to see all their options when they need to look for help. While i feel impatient and sometimes want better resources for the kids i work with now, i'm also grateful and excited to see what the next 3,5,7 years will bring.

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Inclusion is a long-term challenge. I think the Singapore government has made a lot of efforts to push for inclusive education according to Enabling Master Plan, such as sending teachers for training and setting up more programs and curriculums to support the needs of the child in different age groups and levels (eg. DS-LS, DS plus).

However, it seems like there are still several challenges to meet the goals. According to the video I’ve watched, parents mentioned that more teachers are needed to support children with special needs.  Besides, it’s still a lack of resources for early intervention services and special schools. There are long waiting lists and it’s about 9-12 months for waiting. I heard from one of the early interventionists in Singapore, she said that while the child was waiting before they receive the EI services, they had nothing to do at home. One more highlight is, preschools are not compulsory education, so preschools may lack resources to support children with special needs, that’s why the child may be rejected by preschools.

On top of that, I think that apart from teacher training, we also need to enhance parent training. Parents are the person who accompanied the child, so it’s essential to train the parents to support the child rather than just rely on teachers and therapists. In the video, the parents also mentioned that they lack skills in handling the child’s meltdown outside of school. On the other hand, it may also come up with other challenges, such as working parents don’t have time to attend training and financial support.

In sum, it’s important to increase awareness to increase resources.

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Singapore has really come very far in the area of SEN support, and it would be mainly thanks to the Enabling Masterplan. I have the privilege to have gone through several models of special educational support over the past 16 years and although the work is hard for special educators (and progress may not be as ideal as we have wanted) but every small little change benefit our children and the people with SEN. Singapore learns alot from other countries and models (best practices) and I trust that we will not stop here but continue to push forward. I like that Dr Liz mentioned that (and it is very true) as advocates for these individuals, when we have the opportunities to (be able to influence policies/ have some says in the moves ahead), speak up. I always tell the SEN-Os, many of these policies in place are also due to the fact that ground feedback (all our heartwork - are not in vain) has been well-received and this will encourage many of us to press on.

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It was nice exploring the SG Enable site and getting to know the services that are open to people with SEN, as well as future employment possibilities. I also enjoyed the fact that the website is accessible, where the reader can toggle the size of the wordings, or set the website to dark mode, so it is not too overwhelming visually.

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From the sharing on issues on children with disabilities, I gathered that one of the bigger challenges that the parents are facing is the financial burden on them. Other than the social stigma of having a SEN child, one very real reason that the parents would like their SEN child to be educated in mainstream is the difference in fees that they are paying. Although the compulsory education act affects all children, including children with severe needs, the fees that parents pay in mainstream is a mere $13 compared to $200 in a SPED school. School places is also guaranteed for mainstream but there is still a long waitlist for SPED schools. I hope the funding for SPED schools and related support services from the government could be increased further.
For the issues facing adults with disabilities, their employment rate and their integration into the society and community is a big issue. Other than schemes and grants, it is also important to shift the mindsets of members of society to support, appreciate and include persons with disabilities.
I look forward to having more enabling villages across Singapore!

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I learned that we need to celebrate differences (and not just recognise that there are differences), appreciate one another differences and that we can empower one another in our journey towards inclusivity. However, I feel that we need to see how best we can support the parents and caregivers of our children with disabilities because it really takes the whole country to support children with disabilities. With the right mindset and heartware, we can reach a stage where support and inclusivity are readily available and seen in our community.

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There are many things that we are doing good in Singapore that are helping persons with disabilities in Singapore. From the setting up of SGenable which is a one stop portal for persons with disabilities and other persons to find more information about various schemes and support for persons with disability. To having the Enabling Master Plan which provides future plans and focuses for persons with disability in Singapore. We have definitely come a long way and there are more we can do. But to smooth out the processes and transparency from the various organisations, it would still take time and more collaboration is needed to ensure sure smooth processes are done.

It takes a village to raise a child with disability, a village is not sufficient, it takes a country!

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It was good to reflect on how far we have come as a country and I would like to think of it as a journey we are on. As long as we are making progress, I believe that with more awareness, resources and support being available, as a country we will be in a better stead to embrace inclusion. It was also good to hear from coursemates experiences in the ground and what are some gaps that we educators can look into and help to advocate for within our means. Importantly, to always celebrate the strengths of people with disabilities!

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It was interesting looking at the different stages of life as well as the different point of views [student, care takers]. Although support can be provided, I still feel that there will be a form of challenge that will be present for the relevant parties to take on and overcome.

I like the following quotes from today's sharing = Increase awareness has led to an increase in the resources being provided for those who need them. There is an increase in the level of awareness and support. A lot can be done for these students but in the end, there are some things that can only be learnt through real-life experience.

My learning from the article is that we should recognise strength and appreciate the differences that allows us to tap on each other and learn more from one another.

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Though there is a concerted effort to improve the policies and processes in ensuring an inclusive society, there are many challenges parents and individuals with disabilities face. Some of the challenges are the availability of support for them, financial assistance for parents, educating the public and equipping the caretakers with the knowledge and skills as well. It is a tall order but slowly and surely we will reach there. My thoughts are there could never be a situation where everyone is please as it is not an easy task as well. Hence the measures taken are to ensure that the majority can benefit from them. It is truly a journey for the society, I believe now with better understanding and awareness we are part of this journey as well.