Posted on July 7, 2020 by All In

As adults, we have unique ways of self-regulation to cope with stressors in our day-to-day life. A cup of coffee may be the perfect start to your day or listening to your favourite tunes may make you feel better. Similarly, children need to experience different sensory activities to regulate themselves too! SPD’s senior occupational therapist, Velusamy Santhakumar, shares some ways that you can incorporate different sensory experiences in your child’s daily routine.

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Ann

“Parents often ask me about advice on what can help their autistic children. I am not an autism expert but I believe that some things might have worked for my own personal situation as a child.” Eric Chen is one of Singapore’s first autistic autism advocate and the founder of WhatsApp Autism Community Singapore.

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Ann

ADHD children may not be able to handle simple day-to-day tasks that teachers expect, and other children take for granted. Yet they do have strengths. What they need is understanding and support to help them cope in class. This article by Society for the Promotion of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Research & Knowledge (SPARK) provides practical classroom management tips for teachers and tutors for ADHD students.

Posted on October 17, 2019 by All In

“My 5-year-old son does not like talking to me or responding to my questions. He talks only when he wants something from me.” If you are facing similar challenges as a caregiver, here are some useful tips from SPD’s speech therapist, Ridhima Batra, to help you engage your child in conversation.

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Ann

Some caregivers may be at a loss as to what to do when their child displays challenging behaviours. If you are one of them, the good news is that there are strategies that you can make use of to manage your child’s emotions. In this first of a two-part series, SPD’s early intervention psychologist, Jacelyn Loh, shares how.

Posted on August 3, 2019 by Ann

Julia is a four-year-old girl with autism. Her mom, Elena, is an art teacher and her dad, Daniel, is an EMT who plays the saxophone. She also has a neurotypical big brother, Samuel, and a dog, Rose. Her videos of her life in Sesame Street will warm the cockles of your heart.

Posted on August 3, 2019 by Ann

Play is the most important part of every child’s life and it is crucial for their development. Written by a team of psychologists from MINDS, this article explains why we should play with our children, and how to do so.

Posted on August 2, 2019 by Ann

Written by a team of psychologists from MINDS, this article explains why children may refuse to go to school and what you as the caregiver can do about it.

Posted on July 28, 2019 by Ann

Written by a team of psychologists from MINDS, this article explains why children throw tantrums or behave aggressively and provide useful tips for managing such behaviours.

Posted on July 28, 2019 by Ann

Written by a team of psychologists from MINDS, this article explains what Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is, its symptoms and causes, and how caregivers can manage a child with ADHD.

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Ann

Written by a team of psychologists from MINDS, this article explains reasons why a child might exhibit self-injurious behaviours and what you can do to manage it?

Posted on July 21, 2019 by Ann

In the largest population-based multinational cohort study to investigate the origins of autism, researchers say that the risk of developing autism is mostly hereditary.  

Posted on July 18, 2019 by Ann

Written by a team of occupational therapists from MINDS, this article explains what sensory processing disorders (SMDs) are, why sensory processing is important and what parents can do to manage children with SMD at home.

Posted on July 18, 2019 by Ann

Written by a team of occupational therapists from MINDS, this article explains the components of fine motor skills, factors that influence fine motor skills and how you can help your child improve these skills.

Posted on July 18, 2019 by Ann

Written by a team of occupational therapists from MINDS, this article covers activities for improving a child’s handwriting.

Posted on July 18, 2019 by Ann

Written by a team of occupational therapists from MINDS, this article explains the components of fine motor skills, factors that influence fine motor skills and how you can help your child improve these skills.

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Ann

As caregivers, we have a major role in helping our children build up a healthy self-esteem. Written by a team of psychologists from MINDS, here are 7 ways we can improve our children’s self-esteem.

Posted on July 13, 2019 by All In

It is important to help children develop social skills so that they can establish relationships and exhibit behaviours that are age-appropriate and culturally acceptable. Written by a team of psychologists from MINDS, here are 4 ways we can use to develop our children’s social skills.

Posted on July 4, 2019 by Ann

Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) refers to all forms of communication that enhance or supplement verbal speech or writing. It is an internationally recognised area of clinical and educational practice that attempts to compensate, temporarily or permanently, for significant speech, language, and writing disabilities. Earlier this year, Specialised ATC, SPD published the AAC for Caregivers Manual. Read on to learn about the tried and tested strategies for effective communication that are found in the manual.

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Ann

What was Greta Thunberg doing at 16 years old? Giving a speech in the U.K. Houses of Parliament in London, addressing the U.N Climate Change Conference in Poland, berating billionaires at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland and getting nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Posted on June 24, 2019 by All In

Why is getting insurance coverage for a person who has been diagnosed with ASD so tiring, difficult and confusing? In this article, our guest blogger Senior Financial Services Consultant Wilson Lee shares with us the reasons, options and useful tips when getting approval from insurance companies. He also provided a summarized roadmap on how parents can set financial goals and get started on the path of wealth management.

Posted on June 19, 2019 by All In

At All In, we sometimes get interesting questions from the general public.

Today, we will be answering this question: How do I talk to people with autism?

Posted on June 15, 2019 by Ann

Miracle Mineral Supplement (MMS) is made up of chlorine dioxide, known to be an effective disinfectant for food and potable water treatment, so why do health professionals and governments take such a strong stand against it? This article explains in detail the components of MMS, why MMS is dangerous, and the potential health risks.

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Ann

Why would any parent give their children with autism bleach? Are they idiots? This article explains the insidious and persuasive arguments for the pseudoscientific bleach therapy, and the warning signs of fake therapies. It also explains what has been done by government agencies, organisations and individuals to counter this dangerous “miracle cure”.

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Ann

Given that about 1 in every 100 of our population has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it is likely that many of us would know someone with autism, no matter whether it is a relative’s child or a friend’s child. How do you act around the parents of the person with autism and with the child herself or himself? We consulted a few parents of children with autism to put together some suggestions to these questions.

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Ann

As caregivers or friends, we can help a child with special needs achieve his or her potential by telling him or her about inspiring role models. It helps them understand that they can do what they might have been told can’t be done, and how others have done it. As the second part of a series on Role Models in Science and Mathematics, the spotlight is on Temple Grandin, inventor of livestock handling devices. This article includes some of her advice for parents of children with autism.

Posted on May 18, 2019 by Ann

June’s coming right up and we’ve done our best to put together the most comprehensive list of holiday activities for you. The list is systematically organised: first by the type of SEN support provided, then by the dates. Useful information such as a short description of the activities, age groups, time slots, costs and location are also provided. 

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Ann

People with autism were asked “What do you wish everyone else knew about autism?”. Here are the top 5 replies.

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Ann

Our children with special educational needs (SEN) require more specialised support in their education. One way to find out more about the programmes, culture and support a school offers is to visit the schools during an Open House. We have updated the list of Government-funded SPED schools (including Rainbow Centre Yishun Park School (RCYPS), which opened at Marsiling Lane in 2018). The list is organised by type of SEN support the schools provide, and contains information about the programmes, age groups of students, and updated information about the dates for Open House. 

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Ann

All In Recommends: Autism is not uncommon, about 1 in every 100 of our population has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). But how much do we know about the autistic adults? About their aspirations and their challenges? Their triumphs and their struggles? How do their caregivers, if any, cope with caring for those with more severe conditions. Watch their stories on Uniquely Me, a six-part documentary by Mediacorp. 

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Ann

All In 推荐： “《特别的我，你懂吗？》带你走进12个自闭成人的世界，从亚斯伯格症候群到中重度自闭症，深入了解他们的苦与乐，窥探他们的特殊和天赋。自闭成人是被社会误解的一群，经常被贴上为反社交或异常的标签。他们在等待着你，用心聆听他们的故事，真心包容他们的特别。”

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Ann

Today’s Layman’s Guide to Autism is: How can I tell if someone has autism?

Posted on May 5, 2019 by Ann

At All In, we sometimes get interesting questions from the general public. The Layman’s Guide to Autism are simplified answers to these real questions. Today, we will be answering this question from our friend, Tee Eng: What should I do if I see a stranger with autism having a meltdown?

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Ann

At All In, we sometimes get interesting questions from the general public. The Layman’s Guide to Autism are simplified answers to these real questions. Today, we will be answering this question from our friend, Rambo: What is the difference between autism and Asperger’s syndrome?

Posted on April 27, 2019 by Ann

“If I were in Sebastien’s body and functioning with his mind, I seriously doubt that I would fare that much better…” This is the inspirational story of how a mother of an aggressive teenager with autism coped with puberty, the general public and her own emotions.

Posted on April 27, 2019 by All In

Does Sheldon have autism? Here is Mayim Bialik (Amy Farrah Fowler)’s touching response to questions about TV stereotypes on the Big Bang Theory. I’m not crying, it’s the onions.

Posted on April 27, 2019 by Ann

A mother wrote an article about her thoughts on Sheldon Cooper. Her son with autism wrote his response and his thoughts about Sheldon Cooper. Such an honest and beautiful dialogue is too good to be missed.

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Ann

Ashlea McKay lived most of her life believing that she was a monster, “an evil creature who didn’t belong and couldn’t socially function well enough to exist among society.” It was only when she got diagnosed at the age of 29 with autism that she understood how her brain work and that she came to accept herself and believe in her own self-worth. 

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Ann

“You’re going to be lucky if your child makes a friend, if she holds a driver’s license, if she holds a minimum wage job.”
Well, she became a lawyer.
Read about Haley Moss, the first openly autistic lawyer to be admitted to the Florida bar.

Posted on April 21, 2019 by All In

This article introduces the resources available to parents of children with autism. These includes local organisations, support groups, and informative sites.

Posted on April 21, 2019 by Ann

This is a list of some of the available centres that provide medical support for autism in Singapore.

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Daphne Seah

In the past, it was uncommon to hear about people with disabilities to participate in sports. People have always questioned their capability and at times have rejected the idea of playing sports with them. This misconception has resulted in children with disability being excluded from games at schools. Even when they have grown up, it …

Posted on March 6, 2019 by All In

The headlines in the past few months have been dominated by news of measles outbreaks in some parts of the USA as well as in Europe and in the Philippines. This brings up the controversial issue of the anti-vaccination movement and how they are gaining momentum worldwide. Log on to any social media platform and the debate is ferocious and …

Posted on January 30, 2019 by All In

If you are a parent of a child with special needs and is currently or planning to send your child for early intervention, here are some good news for you. Beginning this year, the Ministry for Social and Family Development (MSF) will be pushing out changes to the early intervention (EI) framework for families with …

Posted on January 8, 2019 by All In

This is a comprehensive list of almost all of the current treatments that are available for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Taken from the book “The Autism Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Diagnosis, Treatment, Coping, and Healing” by Karen Siff Exkorn.

Posted on January 5, 2019 by All In

Finding the academic curriculum of best fit for your child is a matter of understanding what he needs in order to realise his fullest potential. We have gathered a set of comprehensive guidelines and resources to assist you as you decide on the perfect environment for your child to flourish.

Posted on January 5, 2019 by All In

The lack of understanding about autism can make it difficult for people on the autism spectrum to access the support they need. In this article, we hope to shed light by debunking the common myths and misconceptions on this condition.

Posted on January 5, 2019 by All In

  As parents of children with autism, it can be overwhelming having to handle your child’s health related problems. On top of that, there’s the educational and intervention programmes, financial matters and the day-to-day stresses of living with autism to worry about.   Receiving social and emotional support can make things a lot less daunting …

Posted on January 4, 2019 by All In

What are the available treatments and therapies for autism? Which centres in Singapore offer autism therapy? Need nutrition tips for children with autism? Which of the health-related ‘facts’ commonly said about autism are actually true?

Posted on January 4, 2019 by All In

  Tertiary Education   When your child graduates from secondary school to pursue a higher education, there are many higher learning options for youths with autism. Here is a list of tertiary level schools with Allied Educators on staff that your child can apply to: Nanyang Polytechnic Ngee Ann Polytechnic Republic Polytechnic Singapore Polytechnic Temasek …