How To Improve Sensory Experiences In Your Child’s Daily Routine In Less Time

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.

A Super Dad to 303 Kids

Posted on June 10, 2020 by All In

This Father’s Day, learn about how Danny Ong manages to balance his job as an educator for children with special needs, and being an Active Parent to 3 of his children.

Uncommon Interventions that I Wished My Parents Tried

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.

Handling the Stress of Caregiving While Telecommuting

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Ann

Almost everyone is affected with the announcement on workplace and school closures. In particular, caregivers of children with special needs will need respite and support over this ‘circuit-breaker’ period. In this article, Dr. May Lim, an Associate Professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and a member of SPD’s Services Committee, has provided some tips for caregivers on how to look after their children and themselves.

How to Enhance Your Child’s Gross Motor Skills

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Ann

Working on your child’s gross motor skills at an early stage helps to set the foundation for developing more complex skills as they grow. SPD’s Physiotherapists Natalia Szukalska and La Min Maung will share some activities that you can do with your child to help develop or improve their gross motor skills.

Structured Teaching – A Teaching Model for Caregivers

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Ann

As quality intervention most often takes place in the child’s natural environment, caregivers’ involvement is important in extending learning opportunities to children with developmental needs at home. In this article, SPD’s early intervention teacher, Gerry Da, explains how caregivers can play the role of the teacher at home.

Are You Getting Quality Sleep?

Posted on December 25, 2019 by Ann

According to a recent survey by YouGov, 44% of Singaporeans are not getting enough sleep. In particular, caregivers, given their caregiving responsibilities, may experience a lack of sleep. What can we do to improve sleep for better wellbeing and quality of life? SPD social worker, Benjamin Han, shares more about healthy sleep in this article.

How to Engage Your Child in Conversation

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.

Introducing the All In Tracker and Dashboard

Posted on September 27, 2019 by All In

Introducing the new All In tool to easily track your child’s growth.
Watch the instructional video in this post and get started today!

How Experiencing Joy Can Help Children and Promote Optimal Development

Posted on September 23, 2019 by All In

Joy is a powerful tool for solving childhood challenges and promoting brain health. Yet in our culture of doing, teaching, treating and pathologizing, too often we forget that when a child needs help, the first thing we should increase is joy. Here the author stresses the importance of finding many opportunities for moments of joy every day with our children.

Beating the Odds – Lee Duck Hee

Posted on September 3, 2019 by All In

This is a story about how hearing-impaired Lee Duck Hee used his other senses to excel in tennis.

Managing Challenging Behaviours in Children – Part 2

Posted on August 30, 2019 by All In

In the previous article, “Managing Challenging Behaviours in Children – Part 1”, SPD’s early intervention psychologist, Jacelyn Loh, introduced five strategies that caregivers can use to manage their children’s challenging behaviours. Jacelyn shares more methods in this second part of the series.

Managing Challenging Behaviours in Children – Part 1

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.

What do I do if my family members are not able to accept my child?

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Ann

Written by a team of social workers from MINDS, here are 3 tips for managing family members who are unable to accept a child with disability.

6 Tips for Strengthening Your Marriage

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Ann

Written by a team of social workers from MINDS, here are 6 tips for strengthening your marriage while taking care of a child with disabilities.

What is intellectual disability?

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Ann

Written by a team of social workers from MINDS, this article explains what intellectual disability is and common causes of intellectual disability.

All In Recommends: Sam Berns’ Philosophy for a Happy Life

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Ann

What is the secret to a happy life? Sam Berns who was diagnosed with a rare rapid ageing disease called progeria shares his advice for a happy life.

Playing with our children

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.

What to do when your child refuses to go to school?

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.

Being Kind Gives Us An Evolutionary Advantage

Posted on July 31, 2019 by All In

In this article, All In’s founder Daniel Tan shares the findings of a research study that shows that being kind is an evolutionary advantage, as well as how parents can nurture kindness in their children.

Understanding Temper Tantrums and Aggression

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.

Guide to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

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.

What causes autism? Mostly genetics, according to new study

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.

Guide to Developing Fine Motor Skills

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.

[Advertorial] Guide to Developing Fine Motor Skills

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.

Guide to Improving the Self-Esteem of Children with Disabilities

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.

Guide to Developing the Social Skills of Children with Disabilities

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.

Guide to Activities of Daily Living Skills (ADL)

Posted on July 12, 2019 by Ann

ADL are essential activities that we perform in our daily lives. Most children with disabilities have difficulties performing self-care. It is important that we help develop ADL skills in children and encourage them to be independent, thus decreasing their dependence on caregivers. Written by MINDS’ Occupational Therapists, this guide explains how we can get started with developing ADL skills through activity analysis and intervention strategies.

8 Strategies for Effective Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)

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.

Working with Children with Disabilities

Posted on June 25, 2019 by All In

In this article, All In’s founder, Daniel Tan, shares his experience from working with children with disabilities.
Daniel Tan is currently the Honorary Assistant Secretary of the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS). He is also the Chairman of the Residential and Community-based Care Services Committee.

The Layman’s Guide to Autism: What should I do if my relative’s or friend’s child has autism?

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.

Designing for Inclusivity and Accessibility

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Ann

With some awareness of best practices in design, we can create a more inclusive and accessible community for our friends, colleagues, and customers with special needs. For example, for someone on the autism spectrum, we can reduce the use of bright contrasting colours. Here are some useful guidelines on what we can do when preparing documents or designing for people with different access needs.

A Kinder and More Caring Society? Let’s Start with Our Children

Posted on May 29, 2019 by All In

Here is a word from one of All In’s founder Daniel Tan, who is currently the Honorary Assistant Secretary of the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS). He is also the Chairman of the Residential and Community-based Care Services Committee. In this article, Daniel shares his thoughts about how parents can encourage their children to be unconsciously kinder and more caring towards persons with special needs in our community.

$Role Models in Science and Mathematics Series: Larry Baggett, the Blind Mathematician - Blog$

Role Models in Science and Mathematics Series: Larry Baggett, the Blind Mathematician

Posted on May 27, 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. This 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 third part of a series on Role Models in Science and Mathematics, the spotlight is on Lawrence Baggett, Professor Emeritus in Mathematics.

Register for “It’s Always A Good Time!” Now!

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Ann

“It’s Always a Good Time” is an exciting event filled with games, art activities and a dance session for individuals with special needs. There will also be a photo booth and digital copies will be sent to the participants. Light refreshments will be provided. The best part is that the event will be taking place in an accessible part of town.

Role Models in Science and Mathematics Series: Temple Grandin, Animal Scientist with Autism

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.

June Holidays 2019: Activities for Children with Special Needs

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.

Travis’ Story in The Birthday Book

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Daphne Seah

“It’s been a difficult road that leads me to where I am today.” These are the words of Travis Chua, a 7-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. His essay “The Roads We Take” is published in the book “The Birthday Book Jr”.

How to Nurture the Potential of Children with Special Needs

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Ann

Here are some ways we can help a child with special needs achieve his or her potential.

First Life Skills Centre For Young Adults with Down Syndrome

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Daphne Seah

There are several existing centres in Singapore with programs that teach life skills to people with special needs. However, a life skill centre specifically for young adults with Down syndrome did not exist until now.

Role Models in Science and Mathematics Series: Ralph Braun, Inventor with Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Posted on May 13, 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. This 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 first part of a series on Role Models in Science and Mathematics, the spotlight is on Ralph Braun, inventor of the vehicle wheelchair lift.

Updated Open House Dates of Special Education (SPED) Schools 2019

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.

Fabulous Self-Care Practices in Under 15 Minutes

Posted on May 10, 2019 by Ann

As caregivers, we have so many responsibilities that we often neglect ourselves. But taking time out to care for ourselves is really important. Not only does it improve our physical and emotional health, it makes us a better caregiver. “But the problem is time!” you cry. Never fear! We have prepared a list of 15 …

All In Recommends: Uniquely Me (Documentary on Adults with ASD and their Caregivers)

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.

Allin推荐：特别的我，你懂吗？

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。”

The Layman’s Guide to Autism: What can I do if I see a stranger with autism having a meltdown?

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?

Preparing Your Child with Special Needs for Mainstream

Posted on May 5, 2019 by Daphne Seah

Having made the decision to send your child with special education needs (SEN) to a mainstream school, you may find yourself worrying about whether your child can cope. However, with the right support, children with special needs can thrive in mainstream schools. This article aims to help you prepare for your child’s entry into a mainstream school.

Choo Kah Ying: Raising an Aggressive Teenager with Autism

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.

Big Bang: A Mom’s and A Child’s Differing Views on Sheldon Cooper

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.

An Evil Creature Who Didn’t Belong: Perils of a Late Diagnosis

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.