New centre for autistic young adults
Published on: Thursday, July 14, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Puzzle Print is the latest project initiated by Child (Caring & Helping Individuals Learn and Develop) Sabah to give young adults and those having autistic disability with hands-on job opportunity.Its founder Jacqueline Lingham said the centre located at TNK Commercial Centre, Tanjung Aru, was officially operating on July 1 and currently has six young adults aged between 20 and 25 years old undergoing training.She said it is not a profit-making centre but an avenue for special young adults to enhance their skills and learn to be independent when no parents are around (during office hours) and they are assigned to do jobs such as pressing, folding shirts and packaging, among others.
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It aims to provide employment for individuals with autism, making them contributors to the society."We want these special young adults to be independent and at the same time to acquire skills through their hands-on work."The most important thing is when they go back to their respective homes, they feel good having a sense of accomplishment."It is more like giving them confidence boost as eventually these adults would be living on their own because their parents would not be there forever," she said.
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However, there are trained coaches to assist them – Joanne Teoh, Handley Japeth and Belinda Too.Jacqueline said the trainees also receive salary just like other workers. She thanked the Sabah Welfare Department for their financial assistance.
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The machines used in the workshop are sponsored by Bursa Saham Malaysia."In our workshop there are new heat press machine, button badge machine and cutting machine and are sponsored by Bursa Saham Malaysia. "I thank them for helping in our plight or else we would not be able to start," she said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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