For years, the flicker of a stove flame was enough to make Choo Jun Wei recoil. “He’s been scared of fire since he was young, and never goes near it,” says his mother, Yvonne Tai. “Fear of fire, yes,” the 29-year-old echoes.
Jun Wei’s aversion is more than a kitchen quirk – it is part of a wider pattern of sensory sensitivities and difficulty coping with the unfamiliar. He was diagnosed with autism at age three, when his parents recognised that his struggles to communicate and deal with change pointed to something deeper. “At first, we didn’t know how to cope… but we tried to learn, and to teach him. There were ups and downs,” Yvonne recalls.
Many of his challenges persisted into adulthood, intensifying as the support and services that had sustained him dropped sharply after he left school, a phenomenon professionals call “the post-18 cliff effect”
“After exiting formal schooling, individuals on the spectrum experience a huge gap in services and support that would allow them to continue to thrive,” explains Dr Sim Zi Lin, Psychologist and Programme Director at the Autism Resource Centre (Singapore).
This includes everyday skills most people take for granted: managing a home, cooking, and keeping to routines. Jun Wei feared being in the kitchen, leaving his mother to take care of his meals and wash the dishes.
We always worry. One day, when we are not around, how will he survive on his own? We need him to be independent.
Yvonne Tai, Jun Wei's mother
It was in September 2024 that things began to change. Jun Wei enrolled in the Supported Living & Training (SLT) Programme – a collaboration between Temasek Foundation, Autism Resource Centre (Singapore), and The Purple Parade Limited. The programme is designed to teach young adults with autism and other special needs the basics of independent living.
Delivered through ARC(S)’s Flourish for Life series, SLT includes a three-day residential programme at a centre designed to resemble a real living space. During their stay, participants learn how to make their bed, fold laundry and, in Jun Wei’s case, to confront a long-standing fear of cooking.
The coaches needed to find ways around his worries, explains Dr Sim. Part of the solution was to use an induction cooker instead of an open flame, but they still needed to help Jun Wei work through his fears, holding his hand while he was handling a pot until he gained the confidence to do it alone. Even though it’s still only when “Mum is around”, Jun Wei now makes his own eggs.
Tamed fears, newfound freedom: Thanks to the SLT programme, Jun Wei now dishes up independence, one meal at a time
“Jun Wei has been really brave. His mum tells us he has been practising at home and has become quite the expert,” Dr Sim says, laughing.
His confidence has spilled into other parts of his life. Besides helping out at home, Jun Wei also plans his time better, and is “sometimes early” getting to his part-time job as a store assistant with The Animal Project and to rehearsals with The Purple Symphony, where he plays the French horn.
He says that the coaches taught him skills that allow him to manage more things on his own. “I know the routine, I know what to do.”
Yvonne sees the difference. “Previously, I had to remind him – now, sometimes, he reminds me that he can do it himself,” she says. “I feel more relaxed. He’s learning, he’s positive, and keeping healthy and happy.”
Perhaps the most striking change is that Jun Wei has begun giving back, volunteering at a special needs preschool and playing the ukulele for the children each morning. “It’s fun. Sometimes the children are very funny,” he says, smiling. “I think they should join the SLT programme too, so they can look after themselves when they grow up.”
“Jun Wei’s story is really a testament to the fact that with the right training and support, individuals on the autism spectrum can thrive in community living,” says Dr Sim, adding that there are plans to grow both the reach and range of living skills covered by the programme. “This would alleviate many of the worries that caregivers have about their children’s future.”
Yvonne’s pride – and relief – is apparent. “He has come such a long way,” she says. “Maybe one day, when we are old, he can even look after us.”
It is a hope that no longer feels far-fetched.
Jun Wei agrees with a ready smile: “Yup, should be fine.”
Launched in September 2024, the Supported Living & Training (SLT) Programme is a partnership between Temasek Foundation, Autism Resource Centre (Singapore), and The Purple Parade Limited. It is designed for adults aged 18 and above who are on the autism spectrum, and who have low to moderate support needs. It helps bridge the “post-18 cliff effect”, including through immersive, hands-on training in home-like environments through the Flourish for Life series. Over three days and two nights, participants learn the basics of self-management, home management, and community participation. Temasek Foundation has committed S$4 million over three years to enhance the support ecosystem for persons with disabilities (PwDs) aged 18 and above. The SLT Programme, the first initiative, has already been allocated $600,000.
With the right training and support, individuals on the autism spectrum can thrive in community living. This would alleviate many of the worries that caregivers have about their children’s future.
Dr Sim Zi Lin, Psychologist and Programme Director of the Autism Resource Centre (Singapore)
Temasek’s journey in building social capital started over 20 years ago, when it adopted a deliberate and structured approach, anchored on the twin pillars of governance and sustainability, to give back to communities.
Since 2003, Temasek has been setting aside a portion of its net positive returns above its risk-adjusted cost of capital for community gifts.
These are approved by the Temasek Board and then donated to partners to achieve Temasek’s community objectives of Connecting People, Uplifting Communities, Protecting the Planet, and Advancing Capabilities.
Temasek Trust (TT) has been the primary beneficiary of Temasek’s gifts. TT disburses grants for programmes to be developed and delivered by Temasek’s non-profit ecosystem, including Temasek Foundation, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Stewardship Asia Centre, and Mandai Nature.
In addition to Temasek Trust and our non-profit ecosystem, Temasek also works directly with partners from the Public, Private, and People sectors to advance our community objectives, where our philanthropic capital, network, and industry insights can make the most impact.
Temasek Foundation supports a diverse range of programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and beyond. Temasek Foundation programmes are made possible through philanthropic endowments gifted by Temasek, as well as gifts and other contributions from other donors. These programmes strive towards achieving positive outcomes for individuals and communities now, and for generations to come. Collectively, Temasek Foundation’s programmes strengthen social resilience, foster international exchange and regional capabilities, advance science, and protect the planet.
![CW CS Thumbnails (Seeds of Change) [1190x520] - ARC CW 1190x520](/content/dam/temasek-corporate/news-and-views/Stories/bridging-the-gap/ARC%20CW%201190x520.jpg "CW CS Thumbnails (Seeds of Change) [1190x520] - ARC CW 1190x520")
