A new S$21-million centre catering to autistic people up to 55 years old will be built in the East Coast area.
St Andrew's Community Hospital in SimeiThe St Andrew's Autism Centre will look at the comprehensive needs of people with autism, including education, social skills training and recreation. It will also prepare them for employment.
The centre will be located at a two-hectare area along Elliot Road, the site of the former St Andrew's Centre Hospital.
The new centre will have specially-equipped classes and daily training rooms, a sensory gym, music therapy and dance rooms, a library including a toy library, and a domestic science lab.
It will also have sheltered workshops, medical and assessment centres, as well as sports and outdoor play facilities. Family members can also access services such as counselling and autism-support training.
Currently, the St Andrew's Autism Centre is situated at the St Andrew's Community Hospital in Simei. It caters to autistic kids and youths up to 18 years old.
Although there are 18 special schools with a total enrolment of 1,200 children and youths with autism, only three schools are autism-specific.
While there are no actual figures for the adult autism population in Singapore, what is known is that services for them are inadequate. There are an estimated 30,000 people with autism in Singapore, but only one in 25 are served in the school system. - CNA/vm
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