By ALYCIA LIM

NOT many people would drop their law studies half way to work at a fast food outlet just for the sake of doing it, but Mary Anne Joseph did just that, and has no regrets.

It paved the way for new openings and she grabbed each one of them with equal fervour.

While working at the outlet, she came across a tutoring job that eventually sealed her fate.

'It was not easy tutoring an autistic child, but it have me a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction ... it was then that I decided it was the job for me,' says Joseph.

Now a professional therapist in modifying behaviours with a Bachelor of Philosophy in Education specialising in special needs, she runs a centre where she works with people who are mentally challenged like those with down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other learning difficulties.

'We are all working towards one goal, which is to make a special needs child independent, because an adult with autism, for example, would be a great burden to the family if not trained.'

She explains that about 99% of the time, the work done at the centre is about behaviour modification.

'We also work on fine motor skills, play, and communication skills, but it is important that parents are involved in whatever we teach because at the end of the day, the child is theirs.'

Going the extra mile to help these families, Joseph does home visits at night, where she meets both parents with their child.

'I make it a point to visit them at night because that is when both parents are home not just the mother or the father.'

She says that parents are also on her priority list because while it may be difficult to change a child's behaviour, it is even harder to change the parents' mindset, and sometimes, parents may be in denial of their child's disability.

'Asians generally view any form of disability as taboo and are reluctant to discuss their thoughts openly,' adds Joseph.

'It is important for parents' to empathise with the child, in order to fully understand their offspring, because if they do not put themselves in their child's shoes, they will never understand.'

She adds that all parents want to give the best to their children, and in the case of parents with a special needs child, the guilt factor is there often making the child the 'king' or 'queen' at home.

'Many parents give in to the demands of the child, unaware that it is not doing the child any good.

Her centre - MA Joseph Special Needs - has had a good track record as it offers proper care and a curriculum that's tailor-made for each individual.

She acknowledges that the centre's charges are amongst the highest in the market, but is quick to point out that the charges are sometimes reduced for patients who cannot afford.

'Our rates are high because we have the experience and expertise and many of our employees receive proper training'.

Joseph is also a firm believer of rewarding loyal and dedicated workers for nothing can replace them.

However, life is not all about making money, says Joseph adding that she gives free talks in her centre, in schools, and in other institutions about behaviour modification.

'The talks are not always about children with mental disabilities.

'I also give talks about behaviour modification in general, because this is something that can be applied by everyone.'

Joseph says that what drives her is the strange personalities of her young charges.

'Children with autism especially have a certain gift in them. They have so much potential; you just have to tap into their world in order to know who they are.'