Families with children with disabilities who are attending special student care centres will get more fee subsidies in Singapore. With the extra help, most families will, on average, pay between 30 and 80 per cent less in fees, reports Straits Times
For example, a family with a total household income of $4,000 a month will only pay $142 a month when the more generous subsidies kick in, which is about 75 per cent less than the $582 they had to pay previously.
Meanwhile, the eligible household income for means-tested subsidies will be raised from $4,000 to $9,200 a month.
Special student care centres provide after-school care and supervision for children with disabilities who are aged between seven and 18.
The changes will take effect from July 1, said Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sam Tan in Parliament on Thursday (March 5).
“I find that Kylie is better at communicating now and she is also more cheerful as she has made friends at the special student care centre. When she is happy, she is also better able to learn to be more independent.” said Kylie
Madam Lim, who is an accounts and administrative assistant earning less than $3,000 a month, is thankful for the higher subsidy.
She pays $106 a month now, and will need to fork out only $35 with the more generous subsidies.
Meanwhile, SG Enable, the agency set up by the MSF to support people with disabilities, has launched a new online resource called the Enabling Guide.
This is a one-stop website to help people find information on the various disability schemes and services.
