Key points
- Persons with sensory disabilities – partial or full loss of hearing or vision – can benefit from
therapy and intervention.
- It is important for those with sensory disabilities to hone compensatory skills such as sign language,
Braille and other sensory efficiency skill.
- Those who require child or adult care services may consider inclusive preschools, special student care
centres, or centre-based, residential, and home care services.
- Children with sensory disabilities can enrol in either SPED schools or mainstream schools, depending on
their individual needs.
- Adults with sensory disabilities can participate in programmes to prepare them for working life.
- There are training and skills-upgrading programmes to help those with disabilities to secure jobs.
Here you will find information on the social support available for persons with sensory disabilities, resources and
stories of people going through the same journey.
Therapy and Intervention
Actions to take
- Explore Singapore Sign Language as a mode of communication for the deaf.
- Those with residual hearing can explore Natural Auditory Oral and Auditory Verbal Therapy.
- Those with visual impairment can refer to the “Expanded Core
Curriculum” for more information regarding necessary knowledge and skills needed for learning
and independent living.
Rehabilitation and therapy can help persons with sensory disabilities manage their conditions with confidence.
Treatment goals vary between individuals.
Deafness/Hard of Hearing
Just as typical individuals use spoken language to communicate their ideas, feelings and thoughts, deaf people use
sign language for the same purposes.
Sign language is a visual-manual mode of communication with its own grammar and linguistic structure. Singapore Sign
Language (SgSL) is Singapore’s native sign language.
Not all persons with hearing loss use sign language to communicate. Some also use speech and listening. Others who
have residual hearing use other communication approaches such as Natural Auditory Oral (NAO) and Auditory Verbal
Therapy (AVT). For more information, click on the link below:
Vision loss/blindness
Individuals with visual impairment require multi-faceted care. This includes specialist medical care, special
education programmes and specific support services. For children with visual impairment, support programmes should
be geared towards both education and rehabilitation, while those for adults can be geared mainly towards
rehabilitation.
To maximise their learning potential, it is recommended that children with visual impairment develop compensatory
skills in addition to their normal developmental skills. The term “expanded core curriculum” was
developed to describe a set of knowledge and skills needed by students with visual impairments that would enhance
their academic learning as well as their independence later in life.
These skills include:
- Compensatory academic skills, including the use of Braille
- Orientation and mobility
- Social interaction skills
- Recreation and leisure skills
- Visual/sensory efficiency skills
For more information:
Services and programmes
Actions to take
- Look into early intervention programmes and therapy offered by schools or private centres to support your
child’s development.
Early Intervention Programme For Infants and Children (EIPIC) is likely the most known
programme for children with special needs. Activities at EIPIC centres aim to maximise the child’s
developmental growth potential, while minimising the development of secondary disabilities. Click here for a list of EIPIC centres catering to children with sensory disabilities.
If your child is not in a programme or school where therapy is already provided, he can still attend ad-hoc therapy sessions offered by other SSAs or private intervention centres. Adults
with acquired disabilities can also consider therapy services to overcome challenges they face in independent
living, working and socialising. Click here for more information on therapy & intervention.
Other useful information:
Child and adult care
Actions to take
- If you need child or adult care services, consider day care, residential, or home-based care options which
can cater to your caregiving needs.
Day care, residential programmes and other care services are available to support persons with sensory disabilities.
The type of service needed depends on the person’s needs and the level of support that the caregiver can
provide.
Services and programmes
Caregivers looking for childcare and before- or after-school care may consider services such as the Integrated Child
Care Programme (ICCP) for pre-schoolers aged two to six, or Special Student Care Centres (SSCCs) for students aged
seven to 18. ICCP providers can accomodate children with sensory disabilities, but only those with prescribed
hearing aids or corrective lenses.
Find out more on other Child care services.
For adults, getting a job is a step
towards financial security and participation in society. Other options include Day Activity Centres (DACs).
Other useful information:
Education
Actions to take
- Consider enrolling your preschooler into an inclusive or integrated preschool.
- Find out more information and consider the different factors before enrolling your child into either SPED
school or mainstream school.
- Explore SPED schools for those with specifically for sensory disabilities – Canossian School (for those with deafness/ hard
of hearing); Lighthouse School (for those with
deafness/ hard of hearing and visual impairment).
Children and youths with special needs have various choices of education pathways, depending on their individual
needs and abilities.
Apart from early intervention programmes, pre-schoolers may enrol in inclusive or integrated pre-schools. Education is compulsory up to age fifthteen in
Singapore, so children from age seven will need to enrol in either Special Education (SPED) schools or mainstream primary schools.
Currently, there are two SPED schools dedicated to children with sensory disabilities. They are Canossian School (for those with hearing loss) and
Lighthouse School (for those with deafness/hard of
hearing and visual impairment). Both prepare students for mainstream examinations. Some SPED schools support
students with multiple disabilities, and these can support those with sensory disabilities too.
In the mainstream education system, there are a few designated schools supporting students with sensory disabilities.
These have specialised support, such as resource teachers who are trained to teach children with moderate to
profound hearing loss or visual impairment. Students with sensory disabilties may also choose to attend
non-designated schools.
Parents can consult medical professionals, social workers or teachers to seek professional advice on whether their
child should attend a SPED school or mainstream school. The links below also provide useful information.
Service providers:
Other useful information:
Employment
Actions to take
- For students in Institutes of Higher Learning contact your school’s Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Support Office or look into internship or mentorship programmes.
- If you have an acquired sensory disability, enrol in SG Enable’s Hospital-to-Work programme.
- Explore skills upgrading and job placement opportunities.
- Explore assistive technology (AT), as well as AT subsidies, to help with workplace modifications to
facilitate work.
- Find out more information here: Training and employment.
Work training and skills upgrading
There are various initiatives for students with special needs leaving the school system to help prepare them working
life. These include internships and vocational training.
People who acquired a sensory disability due to accidents or illness, may find it difficult to return to their old
jobs or prepare for a new career. They may consider SG Enable's
Hospital-to-Work programme, which offers services including rehabilitation, skills training and employment
assistance.
There are also many
training courses offered at subsidised rates, and which are customised for persons with
disabilities to upgrade their skills and enhance their employability. There are also grants and subsidies available to
help
defray training costs.
Finding employment
Job seekers with sensory disabilities may not require specialised employment assistance, but they can still use other
services designed to help them secure and hold down a job, such as CV clinics and job matching services.
Assistive
technology devices and software can help reduce or even remove challenges which people with sensory
disabilities face at work. Employees can ask their employers to consider the Open Door Programme's
Job Redesign Grant, which subsidises the cost of making accommodations for the employee, and covers the purchase of
equipment, workplace modifications and redesigning of jobs or processes. Alternatively, they may choose to invest in
subsidised Assistive Therapy (AT) devices with the help of Assistive Technology Fund.
Other useful information:
Resources and support
- List of Disability Service Providers for individuals with deafness/hard of hearing
For more organisations, refer to this list
- List of Disability Service Providers for individuals with visual impairment
For more organisations, refer to this list
- Resources on Work Training and Employment
- Resources on Assistive Technology
- Additional resources for Caregivers