Tuesday, April 1, 2008
#World Autism Awareness Day - 5:51 AM
World Autism Awareness Day falls on April 2, which is tomorrow.Autism is classified as a developmental disorder which affects 1 in 150 children. The prevalence rate is rapidly going up in the US, partly due to the expanded diagnostics boundaries. Nonetheless, autism cannot be taken lightly.
Sadly, help for autistic children in Singapore is limited. There are special schools and centres dedicated to helping autistic children, but are not given the resources needed to do more. The Singapore government has not been actively pumping in monetary resources to aid in the expensive therapy treatments, resulting in autistic kids being a financial burden to their parents.
Ironically, the government pumps in a lot of money to bring in the so-called foreign talents, just because they are able to bring economical benefits to Singapore, or simply make more money for the government. They give citizenships to them, give them the benefits of the education system and most of them leave after a few years working in Singapore for greener pastures overseas, without serving NS. How can we provide so much financial aid and benefits to people who are not even born in Singapore, and yet fail to give the simplest care to these special needs children? Does it mean being autistic one does not qualify as a Singaporean? Are people who can make money the only concern of the government? People with autism may not be able to bring in economcial growth, but they definitely can contribute to the society through different ways and means. Meritocracy applies regardless of race, religion, social standing, but not if you are slower than others, have a lower IQ or simply unable to contribute financially.
Note: Foreign talents come from countries not linked by a causeway, able to drive up to, or linked by ferries.
