Looking at Sara* today, you will see a confident person who dreams of becoming a baking instructor. What you may not be aware of is that Sara has a disability, which may not be visible to most people.

25-year-old Sara has mild intellectual disability and experiences emotional breakdowns under pressure. Ever since she was diagnosed, her family has been concerned about her future and financial independence, especially since they struggle with financial difficulties. To help lessen the family’s financial burdens, we provided subsidies to support Sara’s specialised Vocational Training programme in baking at APSN Centre for Adults. During her training, Sara picked up baking skills from our dedicated instructors and learnt more about food hygiene, food handling and kitchen cleanliness.

Sara also joined our Peer Social Skills programme to help improve her communication skills and overcome social anxiety in the workplace. Through regular counselling sessions with our Allied Professionals, Sara is now able to manage her emotions when faced with external stress factors.

When Sara graduates from our Vocational Training programme, our Employability Services team will be ready to support Sara in securing a suitable job to help her achieve her dream. Her parents are pleased that Sara will be able to make a positive contribution to the family, and their previously fractured relationship has grown closer than ever.

At APSN, we support many beneficiaries with special needs, like Sara, who face significant challenges in their lives. Your donation can help empower our beneficiaries by equipping them with the necessary skills required for the workforce through vocational training, realistic on-the-job training and employment support services.

*To protect the identity of our beneficiary, her name has been changed and a volunteer model was used in the photograph.

About APSN

Established in 1976, APSN is a social service agency that provides special education, vocational training and employment support services for individuals with mild intellectual disability (IQ 50-70). APSN currently operates four Special Education (SPED) Schools (APSN Chaoyang School, APSN Katong School, APSN Tanglin School and APSN Delta Senior School) for students between the ages of 7 and 21, an APSN Student Care Centre for children from 7 to 18 years old and an APSN Centre for Adults for persons from 18 years and older.

We adopt a holistic approach in our curriculum, comprising academic, vocational and social skills, which are important for open employment and lifelong learning. APSN seeks to enable persons with special needs to be active contributors to the society, and is committed to inspire and develop the capabilities of our partners and community to build an inclusive society.

Currently, APSN cares for more than 6,000 beneficiaries, students, trainees and alumni. We are constantly expanding our network to reach out to and understand the needs of our beneficiaries to better support them.