By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 19: The new Sibu Autism Association (SAA) building, scheduled for completion in December 2025, will become the first vocational training centre of its kind in Sarawak for autistic children, offering support that spans from early diagnosis, intervention, and therapy to skills training aimed at helping them live independently and with dignity.
Minister for Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the facility will not only help children with autism manage themselves but also prepare them to generate income, TVS reported.
“We want children with special needs not to merely rely on compassion, but to live a dignified life. This is what parents want for their children,” she said after officiating the completion of the new SAA building structure in Sibu yesterday (Aug 18).
She added that the building will be equipped with 10 therapy rooms, a dedicated therapy space, and vocational training areas focusing on life skills and real-work preparation.
The facility will also include training and meeting rooms to provide support for parents in managing and understanding their children with autism.
“We provide interventions for the children, but parents also need assistance. With training, briefings, and community support, parents will be more capable of managing their children without feeling overwhelmed,” she said, while commending SAA’s continuous efforts in supporting the autism community in Sarawak.
SAA president David Ngu Tai Giin said the new centre will be able to accommodate up to 200 students, with a stronger focus on life skills and job readiness compared with early intervention alone.
“It is expected to become the first vocational training centre of its kind in Sarawak for autistic children, with emphasis on culinary, agriculture, aquaponics, and hydroponics.
“We don’t want to just care for them, but to train them to be independent and contribute to society,” he said.
The event also coincided with SAA’s 25th anniversary. The association was founded in 2000 by three mothers when there were no dedicated centres for children with autism.
The new building, scheduled for completion in December 2025, is seen as a new symbol of hope for autistic individuals and their families. — DayakDaily
