Every Child is Different
Different children will benefit from different forms of meaningful engagement due to their unique interests and talents, as well as their needs and challenges.
Different Forms of Meaningful Engagement
💼 Paid Work (Full-time, Part-time, or Ad-Hoc)
While some individuals may not require job support, many will benefit from having such support in their workplace.
Examples of Individuals on the Autism Spectrum Engaging in Paid Work:
What is your job?
Café Assistant at Professor Brawn
What do you do at your job?
Serve customers, make their drink orders, attend to their requests, and prepare the restaurant for events like arranging tables and chairs.
What do you enjoy about your job?
Serving customers with a smile, glad to meet regular customers, makes me feel like we are doing a great job.
What is your job?
Logistic Assistant at at DB Schenker
What do you do at your job?
I am in the De-Trash department. I have to count, unbox, and repack Apple products while checking for defects. There are many different Apple products, and learning how to de-trash them all has helped me be more confident.
What do you enjoy about your job?
I enjoy cutting and opening the boxes, sorting them separately. I am also happy that I get a higher salary.
What is your job?
Associate Researcher at P&G (Procter & Gamble)
What do you do at your job?
Ensure sufficient consumables or supply availability and quality. Carrying out screening tests in Micro Labs. Enable ongoing lab operations and compliance.
What do you enjoy about your job?
Sense of challenge: not one day is a “loop” (or a repeat) of the previous day. If I get to experience at least one new thing in my workday, it makes the week sweeter.
🧰 Sheltered Workshops
Sheltered Workshops offer employment and/or vocational training to adults with disabilities who do not yet have the competencies or skills for open employment. These workshops allow participants to practice in jobs or tasks where the processes are either simple or broken down into simpler steps. Participants will gain valuable experience at the workshop, thereby improving their prospects for open employment.
💖 Volunteering
Volunteering is a powerful way to give back to the community while gaining personal fulfilment. It allows you to make a positive impact, whether by helping those in need, supporting causes you care about, or contributing to community development. Volunteering also fosters personal growth by building skills, expanding networks, and boosting mental well-being.
🌱 Personal Development and Learning
Education and ongoing skill development are key to fostering inclusion and opening doors for people with special needs. These may include enrolling in school or furthering their studies. These also include attending skills upgrading courses, such as those offered by SkillsFuture or even on online platforms such as Coursera.
🎨 Hobbies / Social Leisure
Examples of hobbies and social leisure include sports, photography, and gardening. These activities help foster a sense of independence, boost self-confidence, and provide opportunities for self-expression. For your child, these activities can enhance life skills and create pathways for greater inclusion and independence in society.
Examples of Different Ways Adults Engage Meaningfully
Take a look at the three adults in the profiles below. Notice that the forms of meaningful engagement they participate in are different.
Alvin
Alvin loves Lego bricks. He is usually able to follow instructions provided to him by his teachers and supervisors. However, he struggles with loud and confusing environments. He can find it difficult to focus after a few hours of concentrated tasks.
In the day, Alvin attends the SIA-MINDS Employment Development Centre. He receives guidance and support on employment skills from coaches at the centre. He also works there for 2 hours a day as a dishwasher, where he is allowed to wear earplugs to minimise noise distractions.
Alvin is also part of a Lego Builder’s Club. They meet once a week, on Tuesday evenings, at a Community Centre to discuss their latest builds and to work on large displays. This year, the Lego Builder’s Club decided to make a Christmas scene using all the bricks they have. On Christmas Day, they displayed their Lego creations for all the neighbours to enjoy.
Boon Poh
Boon Poh enjoys structured and detail-oriented tasks. He has a sharp eye for detail and a methodical approach to work, which makes him well-suited for this current role. While he can sometimes find it challenging to engage in casual social conversations with colleagues, he thrives when task instructions are explicitly communicated to him.
In the day, Boon Poh works full-time at UOB Group’s Scan Hub. His role involves scanning physical bank documents, labelling them accurately, and uploading them into the bank’s digital system. He also ensures files are categorised correctly for easy retrieval. He prefers clear and direct instructions, which help him to manage his workload efficiently. At times when work situations become socially overwhelming, such as large group discussions or noisy meetings, he uses short breaks to regulate himself before returning to work.
Outside of work, Boon Poh enjoys reading newspapers and magazines, especially articles about technology and finance. He also likes visiting libraries, where he finds the quiet setting relaxing. On weekends, he meets up with a small group of close friends who share his interest in technology, and together they explore new apps and gadgets.
Davina
Davina enjoys walking. She goes to the park for an hour of walking every morning, come rain or shine. Exercise helps her to clear her mind and enjoy the nature around her.
Davina is an avid lover of nature and art as well. She has been drawing and doodling since she was a young girl. She spends her free time making sketches of nature scenes and sights from her morning walks. Her art has been put up for sale by The Art Faculty, a retailer selling household goods featuring local artists. She receives royalties for every product sold which features her artwork.
Davina also volunteers with the neighbourhood clean-up initiative, Bedok Clean ‘N’ Green, to pick up litter from the public parks and gardens around her estate. She volunteers up to four times a week, typically spending one hour during each session.
