Getting a diagnosis
Early signs of autism (0–3)The social-communication signs to watch for in the first three years — and why they can be subtle.Signs in toddlers, by ageA gentle age-by-age checklist for parents who have started to wonder.ADHD vs autismHow to tell the difference between the two — and why it is so often both.PDA & demand avoidanceWhat pathological demand avoidance is, and how to recognise the profile in your child.Getting a diagnosis in SingaporeThe step-by-step route from your GP or polyclinic to a developmental assessment.Coping in the first weeksWhat helped us hold steady in the raw days right after the diagnosis.Autistic and autism: the wordsAutism is the name; autistic describes a person. Which word autistic adults prefer, the words Singapore agencies use, and how to tell your child.
Early intervention & funding
EIPIC explainedEligibility, cost, waitlist and how to enrol — the whole programme on one page.EIPIC centres directoryEvery operator and centre in Singapore, grouped so you can compare.EIPIC vs DS-Plus vs DS-LSWhich early-intervention support actually fits your child.EIPIC-P referral pauseWhat the 2026 pause means for your child, and what to do meanwhile.Private early interventionWhat paying privately costs, what EIPIC costs beside it at every income tier, and how to check the published wait first.Fei Yue EIPIC centresAll four Fei Yue centres: the addresses, the fee at every income tier, who they take, and what is published about the wait.THK EIPIC centresAll six THK centres: the addresses, the fee at every income tier, who they take, and the wait SG Enable publishes for each.AWWA early interventionAWWA runs four early intervention programmes for children under 7, at five centres. Which fits your child’s age, who qualifies, fees and how referral works.DS-Plus explainedWho qualifies, why there is nothing to apply for, what it costs after subsidy, and how it differs from DS-LS and EIPIC.Childcare for an autistic childWhat support comes in, what to ask on the visit, and what to do if a centre says no.MediSave for autismWhat it pays for, and who to ask.MediShield Life and autismMediShield Life covers Singapore Citizen and PR children for life, and autism alone adds no extra premium. What it pays for, and the bills it does not.Choosing an autism therapistWhich ones Singapore registers, how to check each, what to ask first, and signs to change.ABA therapyWhat ABA and early intensive behavioural intervention are, what the Cochrane review found, why some autistic adults object, and what to ask before your child starts.DIR/FloortimeDIR/Floortime in plain words: what a session looks like, how it sits beside ABA, what the reviews found, and how to check a provider in Singapore.The Enabling GuideFind what fits your autistic child by age, and learn who applies for you.Enabling Masterplan 2030The Enabling Masterplan 2030 in plain words: what Singapore’s disability plan changes for an autistic child at each age, and the 2026 taskforce moves, dated.Financial assistance for special needsMoney help sorted by stage: early intervention, the school years, after 18, plus the tax relief parents miss.Assistive Technology FundThe Assistive Technology Fund pays up to 90% of a device for an autistic child in Singapore. Who qualifies, what you still pay, and the steps to apply.The OKU card from SingaporeHow to get an OKU card in Malaysia for your autistic child while your family lives in Singapore, with the documents JKM needs and the office trip.
School & placement
SPED schools directoryThe full list of MOE-funded special-education schools, grouped by profile.Mainstream or SPED?How to weigh a mainstream school against a SPED placement for your child.The SEN Officer in mainstream schoolThe SEN Officer, once called AED(LBS), supports autistic children in Singapore mainstream schools. What they do, how a child is referred, and what to ask.How placement worksThe step-by-step SPED application route, from assessment to an offer.MINDS schoolsWhat the four MINDS schools offer, which children MOE lists them for, and why their deadlines differ.Rainbow Centre schoolsWhich of the three Rainbow Centre schools takes which child, the fees, the two ways in, and the waitlist rule that catches first-time applicants.Private special needs schoolsNo MOE funding, its own fees. Who it suits, what it costs, and the questions to ask before you pay.Autistic child bullied at schoolHow to spot bullying when your autistic child cannot tell you, who to tell at a Singapore school and in what order, and what MOE asks schools to do.Special student care centresA Special Student Care Centre gives subsidised care before and after school to SPED pupils aged 7 to 18. Who can go, what you pay, and how to apply.Compulsory education exemptionA SPED school place needs no exemption. What the compulsory education exemption is, which routes need one, who decides and what to send to MOE.Special needs education diplomaIn Singapore the special needs education diploma is NIE’s DISE, and a SPED school or MOE hires you before you take it. Which course leads to which job.
Everyday support & tools
Visual schedulesHow to make one that helps — and how to know when your child does not need it.Social storiesWhat they are, and how to write one for a moment your child finds hard.Inclusive playgroundsWhich Singapore places put quiet or sensory space in writing, and three questions to ask before a first visit.Autism-friendly dentistsWhere to go, from KKH to NDCS and NUCOHS, how to prepare your child, and what to ask a clinic before you book.Taking your child to the doctorTaking an autistic child to the doctor: what to tell the clinic, the wait, the exam, jabs and blood tests, and the help Singapore polyclinics plan from 2027.Toilet trainingReadiness signs, picture steps, sensory fixes, setbacks, and who can help you in Singapore.Sport and activitiesSwim, run, ride or try jiu-jitsu: the programmes Singapore’s Inclusive Sport portal lists for autistic children, plus what to ask before a trial.Wandering: a safety planWhy autistic children wander, how to prepare home and outings, the ID your child should carry, who to tell in Singapore, and the first steps if they go missing.Ear defenders and noise-cancelling headphonesHow to pick noise-cancelling headphones for an autistic child in Singapore, with checks for a small head and the heat, two pairs to try, and where to buy.Must-Have Sensory Toys for Autistic KidsNine sensory toys for autistic kids on Amazon Singapore, grouped by touch, chewing, watching and movement, with safety notes. Prices as of 24 October 2026.Picture Cards to Support Your Autistic ChildNine picture card sets, boards and one AAC device on Amazon Singapore, from S$17.95 to S$157.69, compared for your autistic child. Prices as of 24 October 2026.Safety Tags for Autistic KidsSeven safety tags for your autistic child on Amazon Singapore, S$17.95 to S$29.66: cards, a stroller tag and car seat stickers. Prices as of 24 October 2026.Hitting at home: safety and helpWhen your autistic child hits you or a sibling: keep everyone safe, respond calmly, rule out pain, keep a short log, and where to get help in Singapore.
Planning ahead
Planning for after usThe whole picture — legal authority, money, and the adult years — with a guide for each step.When your child turns 21What changes legally the day your child becomes an adult, and what to line up before it.Leaving money to your childMaking an inheritance arrive as managed care, not a sum no one can legally touch.Special Needs Savings SchemeCPF paid to your child monthly instead of one lump sum. What it covers, who CPF pays, and the court step it does not remove.