A qualitative study of autism services and supports in Singapore: Perspectives of service providers, autistic adults and caregivers.
Singaporean stakeholders want autism services redesigned around inclusion, flexibility and autistic voices, not just impairment-focused programs.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Han et al. (2021) talked with 60 people in Singapore. The group included autistic adults, parents, teachers, doctors, and social workers.
They used small group chats and one-on-one interviews. The team asked what helps and what blocks good autism services across the lifespan.
What they found
Everyone agreed on three big needs. Services must be inclusive, not separate. They must bend to fit the person, not the other way around. And stigma must drop.
Parents still expect little adult independence, just as Poon (2013) found earlier. Yet autistic adults spoke up for jobs, friends, and self-choice.
How this fits with other research
Ghanouni et al. (2021) ran a twin study. They also heard adults and families report long waits and poor care. The same barrier song plays in both Singapore and the wider adult world.
Habayeb et al. (2022) moved the lens to Qatar. There, families beg for trustworthy respite. Singapore wants inclusion; Qatar wants breaks. Different top wish, same root problem: lifespan services are thin.
Zhu et al. (2026) looked only at 0-6 years in China. They found that cash, training, and parent buy-in let early intervention grow. Singapore’s call for flexible supports extends that recipe beyond preschool.
Why it matters
If you write plans for teens or adults, stop assuming parents want sheltered workshops. Ask the client first, then the family. Push for job coaching, peer clubs, and stigma talks with employers. Use the three tests: Is it inclusive? Can we flex it? Does it cut shame?
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Because autism is a lifelong and complex condition, autistic people may need a range of supports cutting across different sectors (e.g. health, education and social care) at different stages of their lives. Studies in some countries have shown that autistic people and their families face difficulties accessing the services they need, but no research has been done on this topic in Singapore. To start addressing this gap, we interviewed 21 service providers, autistic adults and caregivers/parents of autistic children to find out their perceptions and experiences of autism services and supports in Singapore. Our participants told us that beyond improving access to autism-specific services, they also hoped to see more flexible supports in an inclusive environment and a broader change in societal attitudes. This study highlights that autism service provision should be informed by autistic voices and not only focus on impairment but also recognise the strengths of autistic people alongside their very real needs. The whole of society - including policymakers, professionals, employers, educators, families and autistic people themselves - needs to work together to fight autism stigma and discrimination.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2021 · doi:10.1177/13623613211016112