New centre for kids with special needs

SINGAPORE - Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam officially opened the Society for the Physically Disabled's (SPD's) centre in Jurong East on Saturday.

The centre provides early intervention support for children below six who have been diagnosed with conditions such as autism.

Mr Tharman said the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the National Council of Social Service are working with SPD and the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities to help fund and expand SPD's therapist training scheme.

SPD helps to recruit and train therapists for other voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs). Of its 50 therapists, more than 20 have had stints of up to a year at various VWOs.

"This rotation of therapists through different VWOs has also spurred the spread of best practices and higher standards of care," said Mr Tharman, who is an MP for Jurong GRC.

This article was published on May 11 in The Straits Times.

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