Relocate to Singapore - with Special Needs Child

[sara_l]

Hi there!

I am new to the forum and I hope to get some advice and opinions from you all.

I am a Malaysian (F-35yr) married to a Canadian residing in Malaysia. Currently, I work as a senior lecturer in a business school (a public university). My highest qualification is Ph.D. Husband possess similar qualification.

We have a 9 years old boy who has mild - moderate autism and we have been struggling to find a school that specialize in this so that he can develop more skills for future independent living. DS is verbal but cant express himself well and currently is placed in special ed in a public school where Malay language is used as a medium of teaching. He is holding both Canadian and Malaysian citizenship but we didnt make it to any International Schools (either waitlist was too long ---last time before we moved -- or unavailability of such schooling opportunity in the place where we work now).

Our pediatrician strongly recommended us to move out here, either to U.S. or back to Canada for better supports or school placement. But we really love Asia due to many years being here (parents are here, property commitment etc), so want to seriously venturing into Singapore.

My questions are:

(1) can we apply for Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate before coming to SG? If it is approved, do we entitled for PR application. We are looking into getting a jobs at the universities or other higher learning institution there.

(2) what about DS's school? What option do we have and how do we get a place for him before coming to SG? I believe they need to assess him in order to qualify for a place. How should we go about it? When should we start applying for that.

(3) DS is doing wonderful here with the program he has ... he plays drum and ride horses here. Just that the academic the part, special ed school here is not that ideal for our case. What are the afternoon activities for them after they finish school in the morning. If we both are working, do the school provide transportation? what options do working parents have for child care facilities? Like our case, where can DS go after school?

I would love to hear your experience and opinions. I read that the living expenses are skyrocketing with rental closed to 2k for a 3 room flat. Should we try to make the move happen or look into different country? Surely cant just stick here...

Thanks a lot in advance!
Sara

[beppi]

These organisations can help:
www.autismsg.org
www.autism.org.sg

Regarding EPEC and all other visa/passes, you'd have to follow the same rules as everyone else. They are available at ICA webpage and widely discussed on this board.
If you are Malaysian Chinese, that's a plus. PR isn't available until after a few years living here (and there is no entitlement to it).
Everything you heard about high rents and living costs is true.

[ecureilx]

Our pediatrician strongly recommended us to move out here, either to U.S. or back to Canada for better supports or school placement. But we really love Asia due to many years being here (parents are here, property commitment etc), so want to seriously venturing into Singapore.

Your pediatrician was not wrong to suggest Singaproe ..

My questions are:

(1) can we apply for Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate before coming to SG? If it is approved, do we entitled for PR application. We are looking into getting a jobs at the universities or other higher learning institution there.

EPEC is a sort of pre-qualifier for those who want to work in Singapore and is not a must to get a job. Being in Malaysia, you don't need the Long term visa, which is the main attraction for many people to go for LTVP

My 2 cents: for your case, don't bother with EPEC

(2) what about DS's school? What option do we have and how do we get a place for him before coming to SG? I believe they need to assess him in order to qualify for a place. How should we go about it? When should we start applying for that.

You can look at DSA - http://www.downsyndrome-singapore.org/

I did some volunteer work for DSA and my colleague is heavily involved. I do also, as part of my own interest, volunteer for a couple of other organisations, Minds School http://www.minds.org.sg/ and Handicaps Welfare Association http://www.hwa.org.sg/ and the latter caters to all forms of disability as well as a lot of youth activity and encouragement and engagement programs (we call them generally as Social Integration progams - i.e. allowing them to take their own transport, and generally working towards self reliance .. ) My own primary commitment is to HWA, and to a lesser extent to DSA and Minds.

(3) DS is doing wonderful here with the program he has ... he plays drum and ride horses here. Just that the academic the part, special ed school here is not that ideal for our case. What are the afternoon activities for them after they finish school in the morning. If we both are working, do the school provide transportation? what options do working parents have for child care facilities? Like our case, where can DS go after school?

You can possibly work with the associations, who do provide care until evening. And for horse riding, there is an organisation for that as well, http://www.rdasingapore.org/

I would love to hear your experience and opinions. I read that the living expenses are skyrocketing with rental closed to 2k for a 3 room flat. Should we try to make the move happen or look into different country? Surely cant just stick here...

Thanks a lot in advance!
Sara

2k for a 3 room flat, in Housing Board, is about the low end as of now, and it is not uncommon to be asked to pay 2,500 pm.

And if you are looking at a condo with pool facility etc, you can double your expense

And there are a few threads discussing this

As I mentioned before, I have been involved in Volunteer Welfare Associations here for the past 10 years or so, and have close contacts. And I do know some of the Social Workers and in Singapore, the VWO community is quite close, and almost every organisation knows the other, and they do not enforce "exclusive" membership - for example, members of HWA are also members of SPD, and MDAS .. (Muscular Dystrophy Association), and it is quite normal for you to draw on the strengths of various organisations. MCYS Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports, oversees the various VWOs, and they are professional in their management.

With your qualification, I am sure you and your husband can get a better paying job, so you will be able to afford full time care, on top of keeping your child properly educated and cared for.

Unlike Australia and certain European countries (no, not to offend Aussies and anybody - but I am quoting from my associations internal newsletters which describe such challenges), from my experience, Singapore doesn't discriminate against parents who have children with disabilities or difficulties. And I know a few parents attached to MNCs here, who have children with learning difficulty or physical difficulty.

You can start off, with your job search, and worry less about the care your child will get here.

Hope the above helps.

If you need specific information, I can find out a contact in any of the above organisation, and refer to you.

Have a good day

[gravida]

Well, honestly, in U..S. you will get much better support for your son. On the other hand, being close to the family is also important and there are options to help your son.

First of all, where on the ASD is your son? You have mentioned 9 years old (so, no way to get into early intervention programs, because he is "too old") and that he is verbal, but doesn't express himself well. That's quite little data, but I am thinking aloud - you could try Pathlight (http://www.pathlight.org.sg/main/). That is a school entirely for children on the spectrum, that follows Singapore's mainstream curriculum, but also provides support for children with learning differences. They do understand what is autism, how does it affects learning and what to do in case of any problems.
However, the waiting list is quite long (still, it is better than few years back) and I think they give priority to Singaporeans. But it is worth a try once you will get PR. Your son will have to go through their internal assessment to be qualified/or not for the school. some of the kids that attend "younger sister" of Pathlight - ARC Early Intervention get into thehttp://www.rdasingapore.org/ Pathlight preparatory track (that means still smaller teacher-student ratio, but more academic skills than in EIP, plus the focus on the child's weaknesses, so they could "catch up" before entering Primary in Pathlight).
Other option is Eden school (under same umbrella as Pathlight and ARC) = http://www.edenschool.edu.sg/main/index.php

If you have enough resources in terms of money, Dover Court Preparatory school (http://www.dovercourt.edu.sg/) is a good choice. They are mainstream International School (so your son can attend it even before you will get PR status), but they also have special education unit. What I like about them is that the student-teacher ratio in special ed. unit is nicely balanced, they provide all the necessary services (OT, ST etc.) and if only the child is ready, they try to include the child into mainstream (sometimes even if it is only for one discipline i.e., math).
Their admission process is not that clear, I mean they will want to see your child for assessment, you have to pay for it and there are no refunds. No reports are given, only verbal feedback, many times without clear explanation what was the reason for rejection (if there is rejection). Sometimes the only answer will be : no, please try again next year (and pay again for the assessment etc.). But, once the child is there, he/she gets really good support.

Other International Schools that I know may take children with special needs (MILD!) is Tanglin Trust School (http://www.tts.edu.sg/) and Singapore American School (http://www.sas.edu.sg/).


Most of the schools here provide transportation. As for the after school activities, there are plenty things to choose from, if only there will be a guardian to help your son. Many people have domestic helpers here, some parents of children with special needs hire educational therapists to be there with kids while they are at work (which is better than just a maid, but of course costs more).

The activities may be less structured and not with a therapeutic goal behind, like gyms, music lessons, CCA's (co-curriculum activities at school) etc. Some may be more therapeutic like additional OT, ST, PT, social skills groups, Floortime, horse riding (http://www.rdasingapore.org/) etc.

If you will have time to use the search option on this forum, some time ago I have also placed a full list of parent support online groups. There you can find much more ideas and suggestions.

Good luck!

[sara_l]

Thank you very very much for your prompt reply and great information!

We have started sending out job application and hopefully good news come in...

Gravida, you made a very good point about better support in U.S., I cant agree much but job opportunity is not easy to come as well. There are opening at the universities but most looking for associate professor/professor level which I have yet to be qualified for that. ha! Also, he is "too old" for getting into the any EIP. But he does needs help especially for speech and social skills.

Also, nowadays, they really discrimate people with special needs children to migrate there (or maybe in many countries as well). I was told by a lawyer friend that the condition of these kids have is a hinder for the whole process.

We started to believe, although still hoping he can come around, that our boy probably wont be able to live indepedently so we are working on it so that at least he can live semi-independently, have friends and happy. We are also looking for community support when he becomes an adult and that he will be a good person and can do little to contribute to the society... be it tiny one. Is Singapore has better support for grown up with ASD? I read people can stare at you if you are socially odd. Heart ache.... I know, it is cruel out there in the real world, but dont all parents are protective to their children...

DS's academic works are pretty uneven. He has probably 500 to 600 vocabulary (or maybe more) he surprises you sometimes. He can read book but how much he comprehend, we dont know. He certainly cannot tell you what happen if you asked him. But he can read the lines, he can recognise the words, he know what the words mean but putting them together in a story context, he didnt get it. So, I dont think he can make it to Pathlight although we really hope he could. Never did an assessment on him... IQ test etc. He was diagnosed very late. Received his formal diagnosis when he was 6 years old. Yeah, dont know what went wrong.... he appeared speech delay and hyperactive mainly. So, we're advised to wait and see ... lost too much precious time to give him the help he needs.

Am thinking maybe Eden school will be a better place for him. Is the waitlist for this school also very very long? How long we are talking about? months? a year or so?

International school might not be an option as they are not inexpensive. If we do get jobs in local university and I understand the pay is about 6 to 8k for what I heard. But surely more experienced faculty in NUS make about 8 to 10k... Eveything is sooo expensive in Singapore.

Yes, ecureilx, I am a Malaysian Chinese.

Thanks again... I will read more on the forum and will ask more help from you when I need. Have a good weekend!

[x9200]

Also, nowadays, they really discrimate people with special needs children to migrate there (or maybe in many countries as well).

Do not expect Singapore to be here different and if, expect the worse.

[gravida]

Never did an assessment on him... IQ test etc. He was diagnosed very late. Received his formal diagnosis when he was 6 years old. Yeah, dont know what went wrong.... he appeared speech delay and hyperactive mainly. So, we're advised to wait and see ... lost too much precious time to give him the help he needs.

OK, from what you have shared so far, I think (and please do not understand me wrongly, I am not an expert in everything, I just happen to know a bit, and I have too little data to get the entire picture, so these are only my feelings, not statements of facts), I think he needs:

- occupational therapy (hyperactive as you mentioned). Did you identified his sensory needs/preferences? Does he follow any sensory diet? Any OT? This is quite important, as we know that everything we do and learn goes through sensory system, so sensory integration is a must, higher order skills will rely on it very much.
This can be done in a private setting (not cheap), unfortunately at this age he will not qualify for any subsidized programs (and I am not sure if PRs are entitled to it anyway). Some schools do have OTs on board, but overall there is a shortage of professionals, and if there is one OT in a school and 300-400 children... there is no way to serve everyone who needs it. So, most likely you will have to count in the private therapies.

- speech therapy. Generally, same as above.

- schooling: you may try Eden (the waitlist is there, we are talking about years, but on the other hand - you need time as well before you will get PR status - it is not that simple). So, you have to have a solid plan, ok you will secure the jobs, get the EPs and then you will have to wait a while before it makes sense to apply for PR. I have no idea how long, though. Then, it sometimes takes half a year or longer to get the reply. And only then you can apply to any of the "governmental" schools and be placed on a waiting list. So, in a very optimistic version you will need at least 2-2.5 years before he will start education here. Are you ready to wait so long? He was diagnosed late, as you mentioned, already a lot of time was "waisted", he is getting older, he needs help now. In a 2 years time he will be 11 years old, he will be almost too old to get into Eden (they accepts children up to 14 years, so WHAT IF the entire process of getting the PR will consume slightly more time?).

You could of course try schools like MINDS or APSN (if his IQ is high enough) or other VWO mentioned by the other poster. These schools are big, they also have vocational education centres under the same umbrella, so you will have a clear pathway for him to follow, if he will be able to cope with it.,

There are also some initiatives in Singapore that try to support people with special needs, like for example

Professor Brawn Cafe that hires special needs staff, but to be frank it is just emerging.

Unfortunately, an average Singaporean may stare at you, comment your son's reactions etc. I also do not know what are the policies with getting visa for children with disabilities.

So, I am wondering, if you are not able to give him better support just where you are. You already know the place, have connections, know people.

Other thing to consider is to bring your son time to time to Singapore to provide him with those therapies/treatments that he does not have in Malaysia. I do observe it often. Parents are bringing their children here, once a month for 1-2 weeks (or with different frequency) to provide additional support, but they do not relocate to Sg.
I know people from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Philippines who are doing it...

Hard decision, I know.

[sara_l]

Thanks, Gravida... You made some very good points... We need to really re-consider whether it is worth to make the huge change. If we were to go Dover Court, with some helps to look after DS til we get home from works, let say a domestic helper (if not some place we can send him to after school)... A 3 rooms apartment or flat (pool is not a must)... How much do we need to budget for every month??

I assume one needs to go for medical check up and to declare all the condition and history before submitting the application. Does Singapore also discriminate people getting PR with special needs?? For example our case. I mean he doesn't choose to have this disability and we (both parents) are also contributing to the ccountry, pay taxes, add value and helps training new talents etc... we come as a whole family package and not just merely want to get good things and burdening the country.

It is sooo tough, man... Just to want to get some decent education and seem so impossible.

Sara

[ecureilx]

Thanks, Gravida... You made some very good points... We need to really re-consider whether it is worth to make the huge change. If we were to go Dover Court, with some helps to look after DS til we get home from works, let say a domestic helper (if not some place we can send him to after school)... A 3 rooms apartment or flat (pool is not a must)... How much do we need to budget for every month??

On the same note, you can also source for a special needs care giver, as there are here, as I have seen and met in my Volunteering- taking care of Children with serious difficulties .. It is not an issue .

Budget wise- I would let you compare the costs .. not my forte to suggest costs

I assume one needs to go for medical check up and to declare all the condition and history before submitting the application. Does Singapore also discriminate people getting PR with special needs?? For example our case. I mean he doesn't choose to have this disability and we (both parents) are also contributing to the ccountry, pay taxes, add value and helps training new talents etc... we come as a whole family package and not just merely want to get good things and burdening the country.

As I said before, I have met expats who have children with special needs, and who have become PR here, and citizens as well, and obviously the government had to know about it .. During PR interview, the family has to be present ..

And my own exposure says, Singapore Govt DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ..

After all, there is no social welfare system .. and the social assistance for the needy is very closely monitored and works primarily on subsidies .. and very less handouts .. hence could be the reason for them not worry, unlike states where the social welfare becomes overloaded with handouts and all ..

[x9200]

@ecureilx, not going into an open debate about possible discrimination (I have mine own data too) just think about observed trends (recent 2 yrs) on granting PR for the families with boys vs with girls only. Do you really think the families with the special need kids will be treated like the ones with the boys? It is and always was about the benefits for local economy. The only hope OP may have is because both parents are highly educated and she is a Malaysian Chinese.

[ecureilx]

@ecureilx, not going into an open debate about possible discrimination (I have mine own data too) just think about observed trends (recent 2 yrs) on granting PR for the families with boys vs with girls only. Do you really think the families with the special need kids will be treated like the ones with the boys? It is and always was about the benefits for local economy. The only hope OP may have is because both parents are highly educated and she is a Malaysian Chinese.

not getting into the trend or fine print but the people I know who got PR with special needs and handicapped children work in MNCs and safely estimate them to be at 5 figure pay. And that must have worked in their favour

and the OP and her husband are academics and I know that Singapore has preferential treatment for academics worth their value

And Singapore is NOT a welfare society so the govt probably has less to loose

[x9200]

Got this strange impression that you've been trying to prove my point. All the additional factors mentioned contributing to the acceptance of someone's application are irrelevant to the question that we are speculating here about.

[ecureilx]

Got this strange impression that you've been trying to prove my point. All the additional factors mentioned contributing to the acceptance of someone's application are irrelevant to the question that we are speculating here about.

Or my morning coffee is NOT working

No worries

[sara_l]

Although I know there is no certainty on any matter. I just want to know what is the likelihood in our case getting a PR... for the whole family. If our pays can afford us to send DS to Dover Court for the first couple of years while waiting for the process of getting into Eden school or the type of school that cater to his needs... we dont mind to make the jump. If not, maybe to venture into other places.

What I fear most is.... but the time we put in the efforts and exhausted all the resources hoping that to happen. In the end, we dont even get closed to that...



Thanks for all your inputs and sharing!

[beppi]

Even if you eventually manage to get a PR, it is at least 3 - 4 years after you come here. So why worry about it now?