Care Corner offers essential emotional and financial assistance to Mrs Lau and her children
Parenting is a demanding journey for all, but for Mrs Grace Lau, it has been particularly challenging. As a mother of three children with special learning needs, including her eldest daughter, 14, who faces communication difficulties, her son Jordan, diagnosed with autism, and her youngest daughter, 8, with similar challenges, the burden has been heavy.
With her husband as the sole breadwinner, finances are tight, and Mrs Lau dedicates herself to caring for her children full-time. Jordan’s development is her primary concern, especially as he struggles to keep up with his peers at Pathlight School, a school that integrates mainstream subjects in an autism-friendly environment.
Determined to help Jordan, Mrs Lau sought out early intervention services but was discouraged by the high costs of private centres. Her situation took a turn when she discovered Care Corner’s Educational Therapy Service. The non-profit organisation, which has been providing social services since 1981, offered a solution that aligned with her financial needs.
After an assessment, Care Corner’s educational psychologists determined that Jordan was a good fit for their therapy services. Recognising her financial difficulties, the centre offered substantial subsidies, reducing the cost of the therapy sessions to less than S$100 per month. This made it possible for Mrs Lau to enrol Jordan in Care Corner’s KidsReady and KidsLearn classes, tailored for children with learning disorders like ADHD and mild autism.
Over the past two years, Mrs Lau has witnessed significant improvements in Jordan’s ability to focus and his social skills, thanks to the small class sizes and personalised attention provided by Care Corner’s qualified educational therapists. While Mrs Lau’s expectations remain modest, hoping only for Jordan to develop independence, she is grateful for the progress he has made.
Mrs Lau hopes to inspire other parents with special needs children to explore Care Corner’s services, which not only support children with learning challenges but also offer a range of social services to vulnerable groups, including disadvantaged youth and seniors in need of counselling.
Care Corner relies on public and corporate donations to continue its work. The organisation is currently running the Together We RISE Fundraising Campaign, aiming to raise S$1 million to extend its support to more families like Mrs Lau’s. Contributions are welcomed, with donors receiving a 250 per cent tax deduction for donations of S$10 or more. For more information, visit www.carecorner.org.sg.
