Initially, I agree with the view that PDSNs with JC may be in a position to work for societal good, given current social emphasis on qualifications in Singapore. If we just work with like-minded people who can do common tasks, with people graduated from JCs and local Universities, we will achieve a large critical mass of talents to create social change.
There is indeed a valid concern that PDSNs from JC could be marginalised because of their perceived book-based intellect. Entrusting responsibility in a structured leadership framework that ensures continuity in A-CASE, respect for all members, as well as developing vocational and career skills in JC PDSNs would be most essential for all JC PDSNs in our group, as JCs really neglect relevance to the job market - and JC PDSNs do indeed have the ability to read books, and apply them on writing and speaking in Project Work. In this way, JC PDSNs not just achieve self-improvement, but also develop responsibility for the special needs community and the wider society - something all societies value tremendously. We can increase our capacity to serve our wider community, through JC PDSNs.
However, we also have the need to recognise different models of excellence. Just because one has 20 points or lesser in O Levels doesn't mean he is approved and stamped to be a critical thinker we need. We need much more than qualifications, but we also need to be much more inclusive than having only good O Level scorers (that can go into JC).
We should not dismiss people based on their lack of scores, current situation or otherwise. We should look at how we work to rally together behind a cause.
Indeed, for 95% of the Aspies in Singapore, they need a technical education that trains them in specific jobs that does well in most organisations. They can ill afford a higher probability of being stressed out and unhappy with the JC curriculum, in which they will probably be stressed at a higher incidence than in Polytechnics and ITEs. There will always be a 5% who may not find any course in our ITEs/Polytechnics/vocational institutes useful, but they are the rare minority exceptions.
Discriminating people just because of them not having the intellectual level does no good for us. I even think tuition schemes by Aspies for Aspies bring us further away from functioning and surviving in society, which wants us to do technical skills.
It is wrong to push students to JCs, when ITEs or even other technical/vocational institutes work better for them. It is also wrong to push Aspies and other PDSNs through university, when they are mostly better suited for non-Singaporean Universities or Singaporean technical/vocational training, where they are more likely to finish through the courses in time and be immediately productive in the work force, through specialised training in their skills.
I also think any PDSN group fully consisting of just JC students or alumni is untenable, because it works for only 5% of our PDSN population, and is not representative of our larger PDSN community's larger interests.
So we still accept late bloomers, who can't get into JCs in time. Reason being this is a defect in Singapore society in particular - we only accept a focused person from infancy to work. It's only natural that they have their own concerns in job employment. They need encouragement.
Just by looking at one case where one JC PDSN bullies another, it shows that JC PDSNs propagate the claim 'you are ok so you don't need help' to a worse state. And this questions the credibility of JC PDSNs as a group.
My personal experience also tells me it is possible to have both meltdowns and depressions that plague so many PDSNs AND have good intellectual abilities. There are common stress points for all PDSNs, regardless of IQ or educational levels.
Intellect has little bearing with survival - but the ability to self-improve has. I can safely say until the moment Aspies improve on their ability to be more open with others and be more trusting of other people, Aspies will not get 'self-improvement'. But here's the irony of the Aspies... they ARE Aspies.
The social support group I founded with people with disabilities has not diverted time and resources from the JC or more intellectual PDSNs to lower functioning ones. Because simply put, the natural state of things is that able people help the not-so-able.
Though some Aspies choose to remain not accepting other fellow Aspies, I am sure reality will move us forward and opens new possibilities to help us accept other people on the Spectrum.
We can have both intellectual and lower-functioning members here. All we need is just the commitment to make it happen. We can achieve this.
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