Autistic children to get their own school next January

Return to Vaccination News Home Page __» Right-click to "open in new window"

Subscribe to the Vaccination NewsLetter

View past & current Scandals (columns by Sandy Mintz)

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/print/44887/1/.html

This story was printed from channelnewsasia.com

Title	:	Autistic children to get their own school next January
By	:
Date	:	19 July 2003 2335 hrs (SST)
URL	:	http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/44887/1/.html

A new school to cater to autistic children from six to 16 years old will open in Ang Mo Kio next January.

Every month, about 10 to 15 children in Singapore are diagnosed with autism and there is a shortage of places for these children in special schools.

Some 80 autistic children are enrolled in special schools.

But some 200 autistic children are on the waiting list.

The Education Ministry recognises the need to cater to these children.

Minister of State Dr Ng Eng Hen announced that the Autism Resource Centre and Rainbow Centre will run a new special school for autistic children from next year.

He said the new school will be in Ang Mo Kio and cater to some 200 students.

"We expect to cut down the waiting list within one to two years. It's our target, we hope we can achieve. I'm confident we can," said Dr Ng.

The government and the National Council of Social Services (NCSS) will help fund the running of the centre which will be specially fitted out.

NCSS's service development director Tina Hung said: "The classrooms would be smaller and furnished in a way to minimize distractions. There'll be classrooms for reading and learning. There'll be playrooms and play areas and there'll be rooms for occupational and physiotheraphy as well as psychological testing."

Dr Ng also had other good news - the MOE will also pay 90 percent of the renovation costs incurred by special schools waiting redevelopment.

Return to Vaccination News Home Page __» Right-click to "open in new window"

DISCLAIMER: All information, data, and material contained, presented, or provided here is for general information purposes only and is not to be construed as reflecting the knowledge or opinions of the publisher, and is not to be construed or intended as providing medical or legal advice. The decision whether or not to vaccinate is an important and complex issue and should be made by you, and you alone, in consultation with your health care provider.