Task force proposes stronger job and training support for people with disabilities to ease 'post-18 cliff'

Families worry about whether children with disabilities will be able to find and keep a job, as well as live independently, after they graduate from special education schools at 18.

Salihin Nakmin (left) and Caleb Lim Jia Qing, who both have special needs, are baristas at Enabling Village. (Photo: CNA/Mak Jia Kee)

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SINGAPORE: To ease the “post-18 cliff” faced by people with disabilities after graduation, a task force has recommended enhancing work exposure opportunities in special education (SPED) schools and stronger job support.

In a report released on Sunday (Oct 4), the five-member task force said many families worry about this “cliff” – the uncertainty over whether their loved ones will be able to find and keep a job, live independently and remain connected to their communities after leaving school at 18.

“Many caregivers also worried about what would happen when they were no longer able to care for their loved ones. Above all, families wanted the assurance that they would not have to navigate the future alone,” the task force said.

It said more people with disabilities will need employment support as the number of SPED graduates moving into work or further training grows. The employment rate of people with disabilities aged 15 to 64 years rose from 33.6 per cent in 2024 to 34.7 per cent in 2025, according to Ministry of Manpower data.

The proposed measures aim to build students’ work-ready skills, make training more accessible and help them get jobs. The task force also recommended strengthening employment support services and streamlining access to grants.

The Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in December 2025. Since the start of the year, it has been engaging people with disabilities, caregivers, employers, community partners and other stakeholders on issues including employment, community living and affordability.

Measures to help with the affordability of disability services were announced last month.

Speaking at a press conference at the Enabling Village, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming said: “We want to ensure that whatever they have learnt within the SPED schools strengthen, enlarge the pathway that they are able to consider, when they look for employment."

The task force's recommendations will add on and reinforce the Enabling Master Plan 2030, Mr Goh added.

Besides Mr Goh, the other members of the task force are: Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development and Law Eric Chua; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Finance Shawn Huang; and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and National Development Syed Harun Alhabsyi.

WORK-READY SKILLS IN SCHOOLS

The task force noted that some people with disabilities found it difficult to build the work-ready and soft skills needed for the workplace, such as communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.

This made it harder for them to communicate their strengths, build relationships with colleagues and navigate workplace expectations, and affected how others perceived their potential to work, it said.

From 2027, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will introduce structured applied learning and work exposure to students with autism in SPED schools that offer the national curriculum. The curriculum will also be enhanced to strengthen work-related and soft skills, with job tasters giving more students early exposure to the working world.

Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnic students with disabilities will also receive enhanced work skills training and work exposure opportunities.

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Andrew Lee (right) and Peh Zhi Ping, who both have special needs, are digital services assistants for the National Library Board at Enabling Village. (Photo: CNA/Mak Jia Kee)

MOE will work with SG Enable – the focal national agency for disability and inclusion – and employment service providers to give ITE and polytechnic students further training in work-related and soft skills.

This will be done through work exposure, such as internship opportunities, and personalised job coaching during internships. Those who need further support will get personalised job placement help and coaching after graduation.

The ministry will also introduce transition support programmes from 2027 for SPED graduates who progress to ITE and polytechnics.

Students will receive more targeted education and career guidance from their SPED school years, with families as key partners, so that they choose courses based on the work that suits their strengths and not solely on academic admission requirements.

About 9,000 students are enrolled in 26 SPED schools, a number that has risen over the years. The ministry said this is largely driven by an increase in reported cases of autism, consistent with international trends.

A growing proportion of students from these schools move on to employment, further studies or training, reaching about 57 per cent in 2023. In recent years, about 80 students, or around 20 per cent of the SPED graduating cohort, have progressed to polytechnics and ITE each year. The number is expected to increase, MOE said.

EXPANDING TRAINING COURSES

SG Enable will also make it easier for people with disabilities to upgrade their skills.

The 95 per cent course fee subsidy under the SG Enable Training Grant currently applies only to courses designed for people with disabilities. The task force recommended extending it to eligible mainstream courses offered by training providers accredited by the Skills and Workforce Development Agency, with the first batch of courses to be published by the first half of 2027.

A framework will be introduced to help adult educators build skills in areas such as disability awareness and delivering accessible training. A capability development grant will help training providers equip their educators, improve their learning environments and adapt course materials.

From the second half of this year, SG Enable will expand its sector train-and-place programme to five more industries: food and beverage, logistics, infocommunications and technology, healthcare, and human resources and administration.

The programme was introduced in September 2025 to address the lack of structured training pathways for people with disabilities. SG Enable expects to train and support 800 people with disabilities into employment between 2026 and 2030.

“These sectors have the potential to hire persons with disabilities and expand job opportunities to better meet their aspirations. Participants of the programme will go through structured skills training covering sector-specific vocational and soft skills, as well as work readiness training,” the task force said.

Members of the Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities (from left to right) – Eric Chua, Rahayu Mahzam, Goh Pei Ming, Syed Harun Alhabsyi and Shawn Huang – at a press conference. (Photo: CNA/Mak Jia Kee)

SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYERS

Employers have said it is difficult to identify the right grants and cumbersome to submit multiple applications. Funding is currently split across three grants: the Open Door Programme Job Redesign grant, the Open Door Programme training grant for employers and the Employer Development Grant.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development will combine and enhance these into a new Enabling Employment Grant, expected to launch in the first half of 2027.

Employers will be able to use a single grant for multiple purposes, from job redesign to training and ongoing workplace support. The grant will also cover a wider range of accommodations and the cost of customising in-house training.

The manpower ministry will enhance the Enabling Employment Credit, which about 6,800 employers received in 2025, up from about 6,400 in 2021.

The scheme covers employees with disabilities earning below S$4,000 (US$3,130) a month. It gives employers a permanent wage offset of up to 20 per cent of the employee’s monthly income, capped at S$400.

The scheme also provides a nine-month temporary wage offset of up to an additional 20 per cent, capped at S$400 a month, for employees with disabilities who had not worked for at least six months before being hired.

Enhancements expected in 2027 will increase the amount and duration of the temporary offset and raise the income ceiling. More details will be released later this year.

“This will encourage more employers to consider hiring persons with disabilities who have not been working for some time, and provide more time for these employees to adapt and settle into the workplace,” the task force said.

People with disabilities with moderate needs require regular, structured support on the job, which not many workplaces provide today, the report noted.

To address this, MSF and SG Enable will launch a Supported-Enterprise Enabling Grant later this year. It will fund enterprises that hire a significant proportion of such employees to bring on training officers and allied professionals such as therapists and psychologists.

They can also receive business development support from the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise, such as help to develop products or services and to expand their businesses.

“The intent is for enterprises to use the time-limited funding to achieve business viability, so they can provide ongoing employment support for their employees with disabilities on a sustained basis,” the task force said.

The task force proposed an employment support office at SG Enable to serve as a “one-stop shop” for skills upgrading, career advisory and employment support services.

The office will also support employers in hiring people with disabilities and is expected to be fully operational in the second half of 2027.

Most people with disabilities and their employers currently receive up to one year of job support after placement, but some need a longer runway to adapt, the task force said. Changes such as a new supervisor or colleague may also require support from job coaches.

For job seekers who have not secured employment after an extended period, the employment support office will provide more in-depth career guidance and case management, SG Enable said.

"This may include identifying suitable training, alternative employment pathways or other relevant support services to address barriers and better support their employment journey," it added.

From 2028, MSF and SG Enable will also expand the range of service providers and strengthen job coaches’ capabilities. Those with higher support needs may receive more intensive support beyond 12 months where needed, and help when workplace challenges arise.

“With stronger support to build skills, navigate career transitions and achieve their aspirations, more persons with disabilities will be able to find and sustain meaningful employment,” the task force said.

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家长们担心残疾儿童在 18 岁从特殊教育学校毕业后，是否能够找到并保住工作，以及能否独立生活。

萨利欣·纳克明（左）和卡莱布·林嘉庆都是残障人士，他们在Enabling Village担任咖啡师。（图片：CNA/麦嘉琪）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：为了缓解残疾人士毕业后面临的“18岁后断崖式”就业困境，一个工作组建议增加特殊教育学校的工作实践机会，并加强就业支持。

在周日（10 月 4 日）发布的一份报告中，五人工作组表示，许多家庭担心这个“悬崖”——即他们的亲人在 18 岁离开学校后，能否找到并保住工作、独立生活并与社区保持联系的不确定性。

“许多照护者也担心，当他们无法再照顾亲人时该怎么办。最重要的是，家属们希望得到保证，他们不必独自面对未来，”工作组表示。

报告指出，随着特殊教育毕业生就业或继续深造人数的增加，需要就业支持的残疾人士数量也将随之增长。人力部数据显示，15至64岁残疾人士的就业率将从2024年的33.6%上升至2025年的34.7%。

拟议措施旨在培养学生的就业技能，使培训更易于获得，并帮助他们找到工作。工作组还建议加强就业支持服务，并简化助学金申请流程。

总理黄循财于2025年12月宣布成立残疾人家庭保障工作组。自年初以来，该工作组一直在与残疾人士、照护者、雇主、社区伙伴和其他利益相关者就就业、社区生活和经济承受能力等问题进行沟通。

上个月宣布了一系列旨在降低残疾人服务费用的措施。

内政部兼社会及家庭发展部高级政务部长吴佩铭在赋能村举行的新闻发布会上表示：“我们希望确保他们在特殊教育学校所学到的知识能够得到加强，并拓宽他们在寻找工作时可以考虑的途径。”

吴先生补充说，工作组的建议将补充和加强《2030 年赋能总体规划》。

除了吴先生之外，工作组的其他成员还有：卫生部兼数码发展及新闻部政务部长拉哈尤·马赫扎姆；社会及家庭发展部兼律政部高级政务次长蔡志强；人力部兼财政部高级政务次长黄晓明；以及教育部兼国家发展部高级政务次长赛义德·哈伦·阿尔哈布西。

学校培养就业技能

工作组指出，一些残疾人士难以培养工作所需的技能和软技能，例如沟通能力、人际交往能力和组织能力。

报告称，这使得他们更难展现自己的优势、与同事建立关系以及应对工作场所的期望，并影响了其他人对他们工作潜​​力的看法。

自2027年起，教育部将在提供国家课程的特殊教育学校中，为自闭症学生引入结构化的应用型学习和工作体验。课程也将进行强化，以提升学生的职业技能和软技能，并通过职业体验活动，让更多学生尽早接触职场。

工艺教育学院 (ITE) 和理工学院的残疾学生也将获得加强的工作技能培训和工作实践机会。

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安德鲁·李（右）和白志平都是残障人士，他们是国家图书馆管理局在Enabling Village的数字服务助理。（图片：CNA/麦嘉琪）

教育部将与国家残疾人及包容性机构 SG Enable 以及就业服务提供商合作，为工艺教育学院和理工学院的学生提供与工作相关的技能和软技能方面的进一步培训。

这将通过提供工作实践机会（例如实习机会）以及在实习期间提供个性化的就业指导来实现。毕业后，需要进一步支持的学生将获得个性化的就业安置帮助和指导。

教育部还将从 2027 年起推出过渡支持计划，帮助特殊教育毕业生升入工艺教育学院和理工学院。

在特殊教育学校阶段，学生将接受更有针对性的教育和职业指导，家庭将成为重要的合作伙伴，以便他们能够根据自身优势选择课程，而不仅仅是根据学术入学要求。

目前约有9000名学生就读于26所特殊教育学校，这一数字逐年上升。教育部表示，这主要是由于自闭症病例报告数量的增加，与国际趋势相符。

这些学校的学生就业、继续深造或接受培训的比例越来越高，预计到2023年将达到约57%。近年来，每年约有80名学生（约占特殊教育毕业生总数的20%）升入理工学院和工艺教育学院。教育部表示，预计这一数字还会增加。

拓展培训课程

SG Enable计划还将使残疾人士更容易提升技能。

目前，新加坡“赋能培训补助金”（SG Enable Training Grant）提供的95%课程费用补贴仅适用于专为残障人士设计的课程。工作组建议将该补助金扩展至由技能与劳动力发展局认可的培训机构提供的符合条件的普通课程，首批课程将于2027年上半年公布。

我们将推出一套框架，帮助成人教育工作者提升在残疾意识和提供无障碍培训等方面的技能。一项能力发展补助金将帮助培训机构为其教育工作者配备所需资源，改善学习环境，并调整课程材料。

从今年下半年开始，SG Enable 将把其行业培训和就业计划扩展到另外五个行业：食品和饮料、物流、信息通信和技术、医疗保健以及人力资源和行政管理。

该计划于2025年9月推出，旨在解决残疾人士缺乏系统培训途径的问题。SG Enable预计在2026年至2030年间培训并支持800名残疾人士就业。

工作组表示：“这些行业有潜力雇用残疾人士，并扩大就业机会，以更好地满足他们的愿望。该项目的参与者将接受结构化的技能培训，涵盖特定行业的职业技能和软技能，以及就业准备培训。”

残疾人士家庭保障工作组成员（从左至右）——蔡志强、拉哈尤·马赫扎姆、吴佩明、赛义德·哈伦·阿尔哈布西和黄晓文——出席新闻发布会。（图片：CNA/麦嘉琪）

对雇主的支持

雇主们表示，很难找到合适的资助项目，而且提交多份申请也很麻烦。目前，资金分为三类：开放门户计划工作重组资助、开放门户计划雇主培训资助和雇主发展资助。

社会及家庭发展部将把这些措施合并并加强为一项新的就业扶持补助金，预计将于 2027 年上半年推出。

雇主可以使用单一拨款用于多种用途，包括工作岗位重新设计、员工培训和持续的职场支持。该拨款还将涵盖更广泛的住宿安排以及定制内部培训的费用。

人力部将扩大就业扶持计划，到 2025 年将有约 6,800 名雇主获得该计划的扶持，高于 2021 年的约 6,400 名。

该计划涵盖月收入低于4000新元（3130美元）的残疾员工。它为雇主提供永久性工资补贴，最高可达员工月收入的20%，上限为400新元。

该计划还为残疾员工提供为期九个月的临时工资补贴，最高可达工资的 20%，每月上限为 400 新元，前提是这些员工在被雇用前至少六个月没有工作。

预计2027年将出台的改进措施将增加临时抵扣的金额和期限，并提高收入上限。更多细节将于今年晚些时候公布。

工作组表示：“这将鼓励更多雇主考虑雇用一段时间未工作的残疾人士，并为这些员工提供更多时间来适应和融入工作场所。”

报告指出，中度残疾人士在工作中需要定期、有结构的帮助，而目前很多工作场所都无法提供这种帮助。

为了解决这个问题，无国界医生组织和SG Enable将于今年晚些时候推出一项“支持型企业赋能补助金”。该补助金将资助那些雇用相当比例此类员工的企业，以聘请培训人员和相关专业人员，例如治疗师和心理学家。

他们还可以从新加坡社会企业中心获得业务发展支持，例如帮助开发产品或服务以及拓展业务。

工作组表示：“目的是让企业利用这笔有时限的资金实现业务可行性，以便他们能够持续地为残疾员工提供就业支持。”

工作组提议在 SG Enable 设立就业支持办公室，作为技能提升、职业咨询和就业支持服务的“一站式”服务点。

该办公室还将支持雇主雇用残疾人士，预计将于 2027 年下半年全面投入运营。

工作组表示，目前大多数残疾人士及其雇主在安置后可获得长达一年的就业支持，但有些人需要更长的适应期。诸如更换主管或同事等变化也可能需要就业指导员的帮助。

SG Enable表示，对于长期未找到工作的求职者，就业支持办公室将提供更深入的职业指导和个案管理。

“这可能包括确定合适的培训、替代就业途径或其他相关支持服务，以消除障碍并更好地支持他们的就业历程，”声明补充道。

自2028年起，无国界医生组织（MSF）和SG Enable将扩大服务提供者的范围，并加强就业辅导员的能力。有较高支持需求的人士，如有需要，可在12个月后获得更密集的帮助，并在遇到职场挑战时获得协助。

工作组表示：“通过更有力的支持，帮助残疾人提升技能、顺利完成职业转型并实现他们的抱负，更多的残疾人将能够找到并维持有意义的工作。”

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