Special School for my 3 year girl

[brian.dineen]

Hi all,

This forum is a blessing for all who are planning to relocate to Singapore. My family and I will be relocating to Singapore in Feb 07 and I am busy looking for schools for my 3 year old girl who is autistic.

Are there any good special schools in Singapore? I have done a quick search on the internet and found the following:

1. Singapore Autism School
2. Pathlight School
3. Genesis School
4. St. Andrews School

Do any parents here have had any personal experience with the schools above? My wife and I will appreciate your kind sharing.

Kind regards,
Brian

[greenrover]

Brian

I have emailed mr brown about this and he may be able to help...

As you can see from his profile he too has an autistic child..

http://www.mrbrown.com/about.html

Hope this helps

[brian.dineen]

I have taken a look at Mr Brown's blog. Faith looks very adorable.

I have gotten in touch with Pathlight and Genesis School and am waiting for their responses.

[k1w1]

Dover Court Prepatory School is the most well-known International School that has specific classes for children with special needs. Their fees are reasonable too.

Depending on how highly functioning you daughter is, or what areas she requires assistance in, you may find some International Schools here are open to having her in mainstream classes with an assistant/SEN teacher. Not sure how this fits with you and your family, but just thought I would mention it...

[micknlea]

Genesis School is simply wonderful. I cannot say enough good things about them, they are small and caring and are a place where Autism is considered the norm..
Their only problem? Um, communication via email...do not wait for them to get back to you...give them a call instead if you can.

I will try and send you a PM with more info.

[brian.dineen]

Thanks for the PM. I am on the road ｒｉｇｈｔ　now, will find time to contact them via phone. Appreciate the advice given. On genesis, I　ｈａｖｅ　ｈｅａｒｄ　ｌｏｔｓ　ｏｆ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅｍ　ｂｕｔ　ａｌｓｏ　ｎｏｔ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｎｉｃｅ　ｏｎｅｓ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　Ｉ　ａｍ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　ｃｏｎｃｅｒｎｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ．

Ｉ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｇｅｔ　ｉｎ　ｔｏｕｃｈ　ｗｉｔｈ　Ｄｏｖｅｒ　ａｓ　ｗｅｌｌ．　Ｃｈｅｅｒｓ！

[seasider]

I've just looked into this for a friend of a friend that was hoping to move here. Am pasting below what I sent to her:

I have spoken with a friend who used to assist a little boy with Autism in a mainstream school. She says that, if possible, put your child in mainstream education this way. You will have to fight to get him a place!

She also says Dover Court has reputedly the best (only?) Special Needs Unit. I have also searched the archives of ExpatSingapore.com and found recommendations for these schools as mainstream education for children with special needs:

Singapore American School (SAS)
Tanglin Trust School
Australian International School

Autism Support Groups:
[email protected]
[email protected]

On ExpatSingapore, look out for a member known as "$0.02". She organises SN coffee meetings for "a group of parents with a Third Culture special needs child (or children). The Group offers friendship and support." (Note: I contacted this person myself and she was very helpful.)

More local resources:
http://web.singnet.com.sg/~autism/index.htm
http://www.autism.org.sg/public_html/html/about_arc.htm


IIRC, the friend of a friend visited Dover Court and was impressed but the waiting list for her child's age group was large and she decided, for the time being, not to move.

[brian.dineen]

I have taken a look at the Dover option and it looks good to me. Response from Genesis has been lukewarm and I do not like what I am hearing from one of my colleague in Singapore who used to have her child there.

Thanks for the recommendation. Will be planning to visit Dover when I transit in Singapore.

[micknlea]

Hi Brian, I am glad you will get to visit in person before making the move, it certainly is worth visiting all the options possible if you can while you are here, there is nothing better than seeing things up close.

I hope it all goes well for you.