Autism: Living

and Working in
Singapore
Presented by:

Aw Wei Shan (A0222532U)

Elise Lim Ying Qi (A0223576B)

Loi Xin Yi (A0221809H)

Kyra Chong Hui Min (A0203096L)

Robin Tan Ji Ping (A0199703U)

Yang Xin Ying (A0222034Y)

Zoe Chow Zuer (A0223896R)

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 Robin

Table of Contents
01 Care Economy & ASD

02 Challenges

03 Recommendations

04 Conclusion
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 Robin

01
ASD & The Care
Economy
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 Robin

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

● Range of Severity
 ● Fastest Growing

● Often misunderstood
 Disorder

● Requires public ● 1 in 68 Children

awareness & social ● 1 in 42 Boys

support
 ● Expensive Baby!

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 Robin

The Care Economy & ARC.

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 02
Challenges

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 Elise

Challenge 1:
Difficulties in Social Communication

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 Due to high-functioning ASD’s
Elise

invisible nature…
Resulting in

ASD individuals
May appear as an extremely shy and Misunderstandings during
introverted neurotypical individual. 
 social interactions


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 Elise

Difficulties in Social Communication

High-functioning ASD individuals often struggle with the unwritten 

rules governing social interactions.

Sensory Trouble Autism-related

Overload Understanding meltdowns
During prolonged Body language, tone of Seen as behavioural
eye contact
 voice, metaphors
 problems instead 


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 Elise

The lack of public awareness…

Has furthered the stereotype that
high-functioning ASD individuals are: 



● Socially awkward

● Unempathetic 





Lack of interaction between neurotypical
and high-functioning ASD individuals also
makes it difficult to raise awareness and
build public acceptance.




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 Xin Ying

Challenge 2:
Difficulties in gaining employment and
integrating into the workforce

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 Xin Ying

When they choose to hide their condition..

● Expected to perform and integrate into the
workplace just like neurotypical individuals

● Required to complete tasks that need
comprehension of some assumptions, automatic
understanding of certain work processes and
social interactions


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 Xin Ying

When they choose to hide their condition..

● Difficulties grasping these assumptions, leaps of
logic and automatic understanding

● Feel uncomfortable with social interactions

● Face further emotional distress and decline in
performance at work


Unable to perform in social and technical aspects

→ deemed incapable and increased risk of job loss

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 Xin Ying

When they choose to disclose their

condition…

Many employers are May only be offered May be judged outside

unwilling to hire autistic jobs with low skill levels
 of their capabilities

individuals regardless of
their level of support
needs

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 03
Recommendations

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 Kyra

Recommendation 1:
Raising Awareness on Autism
Through Digital Marketing

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 Kyra

Understanding Individuals with Autism

Current situation:

● Lack of understanding 
 Cycles of stigmatization
● Most people act and communication
unfavourably and are breakdowns

avoidant 


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 Kyra

● 1 bn monthly users
(Tik Tok, 2021)


Social ●
●
average age 10-29

Short videos 


Media
Strategy ● World’s second most
visited site (Neufeld,
2021)

● Wider audience 

● Longer videos


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 Kyra

Immersive Storytelling

Content Goals of the videos

● From the autistic
● Creates stronger
individual's perspective 

emotional
● Shot at eye level 
 response 

● Daily experiences 

● Inner monologue audio

● Series across platforms


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 Kyra

ARC’s Tik Tok

Video
● Supplemented with
YouTube videos 

● Break down
common errors


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 Kyra

Tackling the Low Employment

● Producing content to raise awareness of the skills and

talents autistic individuals have to employers 

● Tackling stereotype that they can only do menial labour

● Alongside ARC’s Employability and Employment Centre
(E2C)


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 Kyra

ARC’s Video on Hiring Autistic Individuals

● Published on YouTube 

● Showcases employable skills
of autistic individuals 

● A social experiment 


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ARC’s YouTube Video Kyra

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 Kyra

VALS2
framework
Effectively targeting “Innovators”

● Concerned with social causes 

● Open to changing habits and
consumption patterns 


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 Kyra

Overview of Strategy

Target Audience Platforms

● Tik Tok 

● General public

● YouTube

● Employers

● More


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 Zoe

Recommendation 2:
Two-Segment Employability Training Programme

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 Zoe

First Segment of Training Programme

VROOM (Virtual Reality and Onsite prOgraMme)







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 Zoe
VROOM - Virtual Reality Segment

● Job interviews

● Interview anxiety 

● Workplace simulation 





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 Zoe
VROOM - Why VR?

Drive interaction Delivery sensory and

immersive experiences




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 Zoe
VROOM - Onsite Programme Segment

● Hard skills

○ Train the skill sets which they require

● Soft skills 

○ Communication 

○ Interpersonal skills 

● Long term work performance




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Second Segment of Training Programme
Xin Yi

● Educate employers and other employees 




● Autism in a corporate context 



● Appropriate management strategies 


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Training programme for Employers
Xin Yi

and other employees

Recruitment Day-to-day
Clear and Simple Job Posts, Written Instructions, reasonable
Focus on technical skills accommodations, buddy system, frequent
during Interviews
 performance reviews 

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 Wei Shan

Recommendation 3:
Increase collaborations with companies
and businesses

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 Wei Shan

Recommendation 3: Increase collaborations with companies and businesses

● Partnerships with firms to
develop inclusive hiring
programme and work
environment 



● Work with social enterprises that
provide learning opportunities
and support 


● Encourage employment by
linking talents with suitable roles


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 Wei Shan

CONCLUSION

“Through programs and education, Autism Resource Centre

supports people with autism in realizing their potential, achieving
independence and fully participating in their communities.”


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 Wei Shan

CONCLUSION
● Individuals with ASD face numerous social and employment challenges



● ARC aims to raise awareness through digital marketing, employability
training and more collaborations




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●
References
Autism Enabling Masterplan. (2021, 4 May). High priority area - D, Employment Continuum.https://enablingmasterplan.autism.org.sg/priority-area-employment-continuum.php

● Autism Resource Centre. (2021, 27 November). Employability and employment centre.https://www.autism.org.sg/core-services/e2c#e2cProgramme

● Employing autistic people Advice & Support for. (2020, August 7). National Autistic Society.
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/employment/employing-autistic-people/employers

● Healis Autism Centre. (2021). Importance of Public Awareness for Autism. Healis Autism Centre; Healis Autism Centre.
https://www.healisautism.com/post/importance-of-public-awareness-for-autism 

● Helping Adults with Autism in the Workplace. (2019, November 15). United Disabilities Services. https://udservices.org/blog/employees-with-autism/

● Kelly, R., O’Malley, M.P., & Antonijevic, S. (2018). ‘Just trying to talk to people…It is the hardest’: Perspectives of adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder on
their social communication skills. Sage Journals, 34(3), 319-334. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0265659018806754

● Mai, A. M. (2019). Hiring agents’ beliefs: A barrier to employment of autistics. SAGE Open, 9(3), 215824401986272. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019862725

● Marschall, A. (2021). What Is “High-Functioning” Autism? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-high-functioning-autism-5198358 

● National Council of Social Service. (2016). Disability Awareness Campaign Launched to Shift Public Mindset Towards Persons with Disabilities. Tote Board.
https://www.ncss.gov.sg/docs/default-source/ncss-press-release-doc/media-release_disability-awareness-campaign_1-pdf.pdf

● Neufeld, D. (2021, January 27). The 50 Most Visited Websites in the World. Visual Capitalist. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-50-most-visited-websites-in-the-world/

● Povey, C. (2014, December 16). What is autism and why is public understanding important? The Independent.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/what-is-autism-and-why-is-public-understanding-important-9927778.html 

● Ram, S. (2021). Autism treatment should be affordable, accessible to all. TODAY. https://www.todayonline.com/voices/autism-treatment-should-be-affordable-accessible-all 

● Solomon, M.R. (2018). Consumer Behaviour: Buying, Having, Being. Pearson Australia.

● Sundiatu, D.-F., Dolan, K., Hunt, V., & Prince, S. (2020, May 19). Diversity wins: How inclusion matters. McKinsey & Company. Retrieved April 6, 2022, from
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-wins-how-inclusion-matters

● Teo, E. (2017). Towards an inclusive workplace. The Straits Times. Retrieved April 10, 2022, from
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/manpower/towards-an-inclusive-workplace

● TikTok. (2021, September 27). Thanks a billion! Newsroom | TikTok; TikTok. https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/1-billion-people-on-tiktokVicker, B. (2022). Social Communication
and Language Characteristics Associated with High Functioning, Verbal Children and Adults with ASD. Indiana University Bloomington.
https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/articles/social-communication-and-language-characteristics.html

● Wadley, J. (2021, 11 February). Virtual training gives young adults with autism stronger interview skills to obtain jobs.

● https://news.umich.edu/virtual-training-gives-young-adults-with-autism-stronger-interview-skills-to-obtain-jobs/

● Yeoh, G., & Yip, C. (2021). The invisible struggle of people with high-functioning autism - and workplaces that hire them. CNA. Retrieved April 10, 2022, from
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cnainsider/invisible-struggle-people-high-functioning-autism-workplace-hire-1965121

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Thank
You
Do you have any questions?




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