AVSW - Part 4 of 5
Dear Friends,
I am helping to fundraise for ARC in its 2023 AVSW or A Very Special Walk. The charity is moving to its next phase to provide much needed services for adults on the autism spectrum.
MY CHALLENGE: Recall the 23-year history of the Autism Resource Centre (ARC) and share 23 memorable photo stories
Click https://avsw.autism.org.sg/participants/denise-phua-2074033a to donate to ARC.
Thanks for caring! Denise
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14. 14TH of MY 23 MEMORIES of serving in autism charity, ARC.
My best memories of my times in ARC are of our beloved beneficiaries whom we serve.
I first met AMIN more than 10 years ago when his dad approached me and ARC to help Amin as he was neither studying nor working. We found he has the potential to learn and to perhaps work a little. He was assigned to be trained by ARC’s employment unit, E2C.
Today, Amin is one of our best staff serving as a café assistant in Pathlight. He is able to take on multiple tasks – cashier, cleaner, food prep. Better than any neuro-typical café staff anyone can find.
Amin uses his pay to pay for his hobbies – batman toys and opera singing. A life transformed.
15. 15TH of my 23 Memories of serving in autism charity, ARC.
My first memory of QUAN JIN was his melting down when he lost his pencil in the School’s bushes in 2005(?).
QJ, unlike most of his Pathlight peers, was not suitable to proceed to the mainstream academic curriculum.
We started a Track V (V for Vocational) for students like QJ . He flourished and today is one of the best staff serving the younger students in the School cafe. Well loved by us all.
16. 16TH of my 23 Memories of serving in autism charity, ARC.
Persons on the autism spectrum can be quite different – when you know one, you know one.
LI JIE benefitted both from special and mainstream education and learnt coping strategies and skills to overcome any challenges he has.
He received good support and acceptance from his family, Pathlight School, Singapore Polytechnic, ARC’s job services unit (E2C) and his employer, Procter and Gamble.
Li Jie is now working as an assistant researcher. He is also a celebrated artist and many of his artwork is sold through @TheArtFaculty, ARC’s social enterprise.
With training and support, he has thrived.
17. 17TH of my 23 Memories of serving in autism charity, ARC.
Parents are critical to the life outcomes of their children with special needs. Photographer and videographer BOB AND journalist HWEE HWEE gave up their jobs in the media to focus on educating their son, Jun Le when he was diagnosed. Le Le is now in the Vocational Track of Pathlight School.
Another set of parents, Sylvester Sim (also photographer/ videographer) and Violet too are great parents to their son who is now working in a public agency ARC helped to place.
Both sets of parents are the ever-ready-to-help-others angels who always help ARC and families like them in tasks, small and big.
18. 18TH of my 23 Memories of serving in autism charity, ARC.
Most charities are too busy with their own challenges to get together; not to mention, partner each other.
The AUTISM NETWORK SINGAPORE formed in 2015 is an alliance of 5 social service agencies who are key service prodviders for persons on the spectrum in SG. Currently ANS comprises Autism Association (S), Autism Resource Centre (S), AWWA, Rainbow Centre and St Andrew’s Autism Centre.
Members collaborate actively during the annual World Autism Awareness Month. They contributed to the first ever AUTISM ENABLING MASTERPLAN in Singapore; facilitated by ARC.