Special Needs Schools in Singapore

Special Needs Schools in Singapore.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is more commonly known as Autism, and it affects individuals in their lives. It is the most funded and researched disability in Singapore as compared to others, but Singapore’s journey towards supporting each and every one of these unique learners continues on.

What does Autism Spectrum Disorder mean?

So what is autism? Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder where the person faces challenges in interacting with the physical and social world, while the term autism has Greek origins, where ‘autos’ means self, so a person with autism is in his or her own world, and Autism Spectrum Disorder is a spectrum because individuals are drastically different from each other (Autism Resource Centre (Singapore), 2024). These individuals face different challenges and learning needs, where some need more one-to-one support from caregivers, while others may be indistinguishable from mainstream peers.

What does special needs mean?

What is the meaning of special needs or Special Education (SPED)? It is when a person needs additional or customised services or accommodations in education or life due to physical, emotional, behavioural difficulties or disabilities (Merriam-webster, 2026). These are the diagnosed conditions that Singapore offers support in terms of schools: ASD with and without intellectual impairments, mild to severe intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, and sensory impairment (Ministry of Education Singapore, 2026).

The types of special schools in Singapore

In Singapore, various special schools cater for these students. There will be three new special education schools for students with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability from the middle of 2026, increasing the number to 16 schools in Singapore, and there are 9000 students with special needs (Ang, 2026). There are various SPED schools in Singapore, such as Pathlight School, St. Andrew’s Schools, Anglo-Chinese School (Academy), APSN, AWWA School, MINDS, Eden School, Grace Orchard Schools, Maitri School, Metta School, Rainbow Centre Schools, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore Schools, and Lighthouse School (Ministry of Education Singapore, 2026). Thus, there is a higher demand than supply when it comes to catering for the educational needs of SPED students.

How does one become a special needs teacher in Singapore?

So, to be a special needs teacher means to work with students with learning disabilities. SPED schools offer personalised support for students ranging from moderate to severe special educational needs, and the minimum academic criteria include a local GCE A-Level or diploma, while to qualify for international special education, the applicant needs to have a Bachelor’s or Masters degree in special education, have completed teaching practicum in a special education school, and a transcript with the practicum and English Language competence if the degree was not in English (Ministry of Education Singapore, 2026). For passionate applicants, it is a rewarding field to teach special needs students.

The future after studying for SPED students

It may be challenging for these students to find work after their schooling years, but fortunately, Singapore is progressive in having companies that cater for the unique needs of these individuals. Many companies believe in being inclusive of persons with disabilities and have received commendations, including Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd, UOB, National Library Board, and Sentosa Development Corporation (SG Enable, 2021). It is common to visit local restaurants or retail outlets to find inclusive workplaces, where these individuals have received sufficient training. However, Singaporeans can learn to be more mindful and patient with these employees, as mistakes are bound to happen from time to time because of their inability to read social cues or understand social rules.

Is Singapore's work done?

While the journey towards inclusivity remains long and tedious, it is with a great hope for the future that the day may eventually be near, thanks to Singapore’s commitment towards special education, as seen in the initiatives of building more new SPED schools, supporting teachers in their careers, and even rewarding companies for being inclusive in their workplaces.

References

Ang, H. (3 March, 2026). Three new SPED schools for students with autism and intellectual disability to open. CNA. Retrieved from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/special-education-needs-schools-autism-intellectual-disability-5963391

Autism Resource Centre (Singapore). (22 August, 2024). What is Autism? Retrieved from Autism Resource Centre (Singapore): https://www.autism.org.sg/living-with-autism/what-is-autism

Merriam-webster. (2026). Special needs. Retrieved from Merriam-Webster: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/special%20needs

Ministry of Education Singapore. (8 January, 2026). Special education (SPED) schools. Retrieved from Ministry of Education Singapore: https://www.moe.gov.sg/special-educational-needs/sped-schools

Ministry of Education Singapore. (8 January, 2026). Teaching in special education schools. Retrieved from Ministry of Education Singapore: https://www.moe.gov.sg/careers/become-teachers/sped-teacher

SG Enable. (2021). Honour Roll. Retrieved from Enabling Mark: https://enablingmark.sg/honourroll

 

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Autism

A parent teaching a boy with special needs.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, face challenges in learning about empathy. I shall begin by articulating what empathy means.

Three types of empathy

Empathy is divided into 3 types: affective empathy, somatic empathy, and cognitive empathy. Affective empathy is about relating to someone’s emotions and responding accordingly, somatic empathy entails a physical response, while cognitive empathy is about knowing what the person is thinking (Cherry, 2020), and studies have shown that autistic children have challenges in these skills (Kassotaki, 2020).

What is autism?

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that inhibits a child’s social capabilities, and it is called a spectrum because symptoms, abilities, and functioning vary from child to child (American Psychological Association, 2020), and it is not a dysfunction of one part of the brain, but rather a disorder of neural networks (Hallahan, Kauffman, & Pullen, 2012).

Children with autism are unable to show or understand social cues. A lack of social receptiveness is present, so even if the child is hugged, which is a gesture of love, the child does not respond as other children would (Hallahan, Kauffman, & Pullen, 2012). Autistic children are not concerned whether they are alone or with others, and they are unable to perceive and express emotions, or build bonds with others, just like typically developing children (Heward, 2017). However, some autistic children have empathy, but for those who lack, it is due to underdeveloped skills, because empathy requires cognitive and emotional functioning, and they do not work together well as compared to typically developing persons (Rudy, 2020).

Autistic children might be more interested in objects rather than humans, and their responses towards adults are not differentiated, regardless of their relationship, and even with language, they are more likely to imitate the speech rather than respond appropriately (Hallahan, Kauffman, & Pullen, 2012). The way autistic children show emotions is different from typical children, but it is inaccurate to say that they lack empathy or cannot identify emotions, because a condition called alexithymia causes children to lack empathy or unable to focus on facial expressions, not autism (Brewer & Murphy, 2016). There is still ambiguity whether autism itself causes a lack of empathy, because some autistic individuals have alexithymia, and that prevents them from knowing their own emotions, let alone understand emotions of others (Taylor, Livingston, & Shah, 2019).

It is rare for an autistic child to show any progression, without the help of meticulously planned curriculum (Heward, 2017). Empathy itself is already a difficult concept for typical children, and for autistic children, though they learn it late, it is possible for them to learn empathy with therapy, to help them see beyond themselves (OConnor, 2020). Hence, the role of educators in the special needs field is pertinent for their holistic development.

References

American Psychological Association. (2020). Autism spectrum disorder. Retrieved from American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/topics/autism

Brewer, R., & Murphy, J. (2016, July 13). People with Autism Can Read Emotions, Feel Empathy. Retrieved from Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/people-with-autism-can-read-emotions-feel-empathy1/

Cherry, K. (2020, May 2). What Is Empathy? Retrieved from Verywell Mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-empathy-2795562

Hallahan, D. P., Kauffman, J. M., & Pullen, P. C. (2012). Exceptional Learners- AN INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION (Twelfth Edition). New Jersey: PEARSON.

Heward, W. L. (2017). Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education. United States of America: PEARSON.

Kassotaki, A. (2020). Teaching Empathy Skills to Children With Autism. Retrieved from upbility: https://upbility.net/blogs/news/104213319-teaching-empathy-skills-to-children-with-autism

OConnor, E. F. (2020, July 24). What My Daughter on the Autism Spectrum Has Taught Us About Empathy. Retrieved from yahoo!life: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/daughter-autism-spectrum-taught-us-184553730.html

Rudy, L. J. (2020, April 20). How Autism May Affect Sympathy and Empathy. Retrieved from Verywell Health: https://www.verywellhealth.com/do-people-with-autism-lack-empathy-259887

Taylor, E., Livingston, L. A., & Shah, P. (2019, June 7). Autism is linked to lower levels of empathy – but that may not be a bad thing. Retrieved from The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/autism-is-linked-to-lower-levels-of-empathy-but-that-may-not-be-a-bad-thing-118359

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