Enlarging Enrolment for Day Activity Centres to Increase Placements for Adults with Autism
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Christopher de Souza’s inquiry on whether Day Activity Centres (DACs) can enlarge their enrolment to increase placement availability for adults with autism. Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that 31 DACs provide over 1,700 places, with an overall utilization rate of 75% as of December 2020. He noted that while eight centres specialize in autism with an 80% utilization rate, there is sufficient capacity across the network to accommodate projected demand. To address caregiver preferences for specific locations, the Ministry facilitates referrals to alternative centres to ensure that persons with disabilities can secure suitable placements. MSF continues to monitor demand and will work with service providers to increase capacity where necessary to support these individuals.
Transcript
13 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether Day Activity Centres can enlarge their enrolment to increase the likelihood of securing placements at such centres for adults with autism.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Day Activity Centres (DACs) are community-based facilities that provide care and skills training for adult persons with disabilities (PwDs). These centres aim to equip PwDs with community and daily living skills and meaningfully occupy clients with social and recreational activities.
In planning for DACs, MSF seeks to ensure that there are sufficient spaces, distributed across Singapore, to cater to the projected demand from PwDs. There are currently 31 DACs, which provide more than 1,700 places to cater to persons with different disabilities. As at December 2020, the overall utilisation rate was about 75%. Eight of these centres specialise in serving clients with autism. As at December 2020, the average utilisation rate of these eight centres was about 80%. Apart from these eight centres, other centres may also serve persons with autism on a case-by-case basis.
While there is sufficient capacity in DACs overall to cater to persons with autism, care-givers may prefer certain DACs for various reasons. Should the care-givers' choice of DAC be unavailable, they may be recommended or referred to other DACs so that they can secure suitable placements for their children. MSF will also continue to monitor the demand for places at DACs and work with providers to increase their capacity where necessary.