ISPPA (Integration Support Programme for Pre-schoolers with Autism)

Partner(s)

National Council of Social Service (NCSS), Rainbow Centre Singapore, and Asian Women's Welfare Association (AWWA)

The ISPPA programme aimed to provide integration and transition support for pre-schoolers with mild Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These children are enrolled in pre-school centres and Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) centres and are capable of mainstream education.

This pilot programme was implemented by Rainbow Centre and AWWA, and administered by NCSS. In-house specialist teams equipped the pre-school teachers and personnel to support a child's learning and integration in the mainstream pre-schools, and eventual transition to mainstream primary schools. These included conducting case intake meetings and training for the teachers, supporting the school and caregivers with intervention strategies to manage behaviour and build communication and social skills. Schools were also taught ways to adapt classroom routines to accommodate the child. When the child was ready to enter primary school, the teams mapped out goals with the pre-school and caregivers, and met with the primary school to facilitate a smooth transition.