Early Intervention Services for Children with Speech Delay, Autism and at Risk of Moderate to Severe Disabilities
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang’s inquiry regarding children under seven with developmental needs receiving early intervention services and their current waiting times. Minister Tan Chuan-Jin stated that 2,600 children benefited from the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) in 2015, with an average wait time of five to six months. He noted that EIPIC capacity will expand by 28% to 3,200 places by 2018 to meet demand, particularly for those with autism and speech delays. Additionally, 1,200 children with milder needs were served through the Development Support Programme (DSP) in mainstream preschools. The Minister emphasized that the Ministry will continue expanding capacity and enhancing preschool capabilities to serve children in their natural settings.
Transcript
19 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how many children below the age of seven with speech delay, autism and at risk of moderate to severe disabilities are currently receiving and awaiting early intervention services at Government-funded voluntary welfare organisations; and (b) what is the current waiting time for these early intervention programmes.
Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: The Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) serves children with moderate to severe disabilities with speech delay, autism and other developmental needs. Subsidised by the Government, EIPIC services are available at 17 voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) located across Singapore. About 2,600 children benefited from EIPIC in 2015. Of these, 6% were diagnosed with speech and language delays, and 47% were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
Children currently have to wait an average of five to six months to enrol in an EIPIC centre. Some centres have a longer wait time due to parents' preferences. The Ministry of Social and Family Development will continue to work with VWOs to expand capacity to meet the demand. There will be 28% more EIPIC places, or a total of 3,200 places, by 2018.
As children are best served in their natural settings, children with milder needs are served in mainstream preschools that offer the Development Support Programme (DSP). In 2015, about 1,200 children benefited from the DSP. The capacity and capability of these preschools will be further developed to meet demand.