Autism newsletter 2022 April - Flipbook - Page 1
AUTISM LINKS
Newsletter of the Autism Association (Singapore)
APRIL 2022
MCI (P) 003/07/2021
GRADUATION AND MOVING ON
TO ADULTHOOD
IN FOCUS
The Achievement and Graduation Ceremony is an annual affair
held in recognition of our students’ milestones throughout
the year as they move towards independence. Celebrated on
November 2021, the ceremony was held with the theme of
“Heroes of Eden School”.
To celebrate this joyous occasion, Individualised Graduation
Ceremonies were arranged for the Eden School graduands and
their family members.This is the second year in the running where
graduands commemorated the day without their peers due to the
COVID-19 restrictions.
The ceremonies were held in the classrooms, where graduands
received their certificate and viewed a montage of their time in
school. Accompanied by their families and educators, they also
got to reminisce about their experiences and learnings. Each
graduand was gifted with a storybook titled “Heroes of Eden”,
which was specially produced in-house. The book illustrates the
best practices of fighting the pandemic.
Even with the COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions in place, it was
a meaningful celebration for students, families and their educators
as they commemorated their achievements and progress for the
year.
All smiles for Marie Angela on her graduation day.
As the graduands of Eden School moved on to the next stage of their lives, some engaged in sheltered workshops and secured
supported work placements in the food and beverage industry and clerical department. Their involvement in these areas encourages
social integration and the development of their skills, inspiring them to be lifelong learners.
Under the post-18 Eden programmes, the Eden Centre for Adults (ECFA) located at Hougang and Clementi focuses on PersonCentred Planning, building the strengths and capabilities of our clients through curated programming in an autism-friendly environment.
The Eden Activity Club (EAC) also engages adults in the autism spectrum through weekly sports, social and leisure activities. The
programme aims to provide learning opportunities for adults on the spectrum who are currently unemployed or without other
support services.
During these sessions, each participant will be paired with one volunteer to guide them in the activities and remind them of the
instructions given by the coaches. The one-on-one guidance from each volunteer helps to engage the clients based on their individual
needs. This allows the volunteers and coaches to focus on the challenges faced by the clients, giving them their fullest support and
attentiveness where they need it most.
Due to the pandemic, the EAC had to put their activities on hold to maintain the safety of their clients, coaches, staff and volunteers
involved. However, the activity club has recently and progressively opened its doors to their members on 4 March 2022, in the hopes
that they can eventually extend their programmes to other participants in the future.
