Call for more community living options for adults with autism

Parents hope for more supported living services for their children as they get older

- Chin Soo Fang

Executive coach Sharon Lee, 52, is concerned about where her son, 27-year-old Lucas Tan, will live in the future.

Mr Tan, who has autism, lives with his parents and has been attending a day activity centre in Siglap since 2019.

It is his mother's hope that he will live with one of her siblings when she is no longer around. If they are unable to care for him, she may have to arrange to put him in St Andrew's Adult Home, a residential home designed and built for adults with autism.

However, she noted, there are more options overseas for individuals on the autism spectrum.

"In countries like the United Kingdom, adults with autism have the option of supported living in the community," Ms Lee said.

"I feel this could work if the individual has some degree of independence, but it also needs a community to assist and intervene when necessary."

In Singapore, service providers are beginning to think about how care for this group of adults might evolve to solve the issue of their living arrangements as they age, especially after their caregivers are gone.

For instance, the Autism Resource Centre which provides a wide range of services, such as early intervention, student enrichment and Pathlight School for individuals with autism told The Straits Times it is developing a residential living programme for such individuals. It will share more details in due time.

Mr Bernard Chew, who is chief executive of St Andrew's Autism Centre, said a different model of care could involve two to three adults with autism living together in a Housing Board flat.

Trained support staff could be deployed to such homes, and those with more severe needs could get more generous staffing ratios and round-the-clock support.