Caregiver 1

2 Caregiver Parents and 1 child with autism

7 volunteers with a healthy and diverse mix of participants from the special needs education sector and from other sectors of society.
Circle meetings are asynchronously coordinated via whatsapp chat group. We will meet sometimes on the last friday of each month from 8 pm to 9.30 pm
This Circle is more about taking action and providing different perspectives for the car wash project rather than providing social or emotional support

Turning an enthusiasm in water play into an asset for society through a car wash initiative

Background

Mary is a mother of three children. She is a caregiver to her autistic son, Jeremy, who is turning 18 soon, and who loves water-play. They stay in the northeast of Singapore. As a group, we have convened with Mary and her Husband, Jack for a number of times. Since our first meeting, Mary have been very passionate about her building a car washing business. Her hopes are that her son Jeremy can be professionally engaged and economically productive through this car washing project. The members of the group have generously contributed their ideas and perspectives. We have even gone to the extent of visiting the multi-storied carpark near their flat to film Jeremy washing cars. The goal for 2023 is to habituate Jeremy with all of the car washing protocols and procedures with human assistance at first, and then train him to become independent in washing a car.

Circle Objectives (We are focusing on 1 and 2 as priority)

1. How could special needs child be meaningfully occupied and contribute to community or society as part of his transition to post 18? For the next 1 year in 2023, we are actualizing Mary's idea of a car wash venture for Jeremy to be seen for his strengths.

https://www.spc.com.sg/community_society/minds-wash/

https://www.minds.org.sg/our-stories-washing-away-the-blues/

2. How could we rope in befrienders to engage Jeremy on a few specific and meaningful activities e.g. sports (such as rollerblading) so that caregiver mum can have time for her own self-actualization or self-care?

3. How could we see and embrace Mary's identity as a whole human being rather than just a special needs’ caregiving mum.

4. How could we rope in community partners and volunteers to help caregiver mum to pursue her aspiration in continuing to serve the special needs community at her comfort level? Eg piloting care sharers which could be a new model to support families with graduating or graduated students with high support needs so that their lives could be made easier.

5. How could we help child become more adapted to and comfortable with social gatherings and outings with people outside the special needs community so that he does not always have to be excluded when family members wish to join mainstream activities?

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