Jonathan Chia, 26, loves making handcrafted bracelets, necklaces and decorative items. He also enjoys painting in watercolour and acrylic, focusing on abstract and impressionist art. It is a skill he learnt during art classes when he was in primary school.
“I enjoy painting because I can explore my creativity,” he says.
“I need to ensure the work is well crafted and the colours are perfect. It requires lots of patience but I’m always happy after seeing the finished product,” adds Chia, a member of Persatuan Kebajikan Sinar Cahaya Istimewa (PKSCI) in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.
He is meticulous, and is comfortable doing tasks repeatedly which are common traits of people who have medium-functioning autism, like Chia.
Autism is a lifelong neuro developmental condition that affects the brain.
Chia’s mother, Katherine Ho Tsui Mee, sees her son’s potential, and wants him to gain meaningful employment. But, at the same time, she’s aware of the stigma that people with ASD face when they seek employment.
In 2014, she founded PKSCI, a centre for children with Autism and Downs Syndrome, in Kuala Lumpur. The aim of the centre is to help young adults with special needs reach their full potential. The centre provides social support services, pre-vocational and skills training as well as job training.
“There’s a lack of services for young adults with ASD in our country, more so outside the big cities.
“Many employers are reluctant to hire people with special needs because of how ‘disability’ is perceived. We need to create awareness on disability to increase acceptance and inclusion of people with special needs,” explains Ho, who is in her 50s.
Like many parents of children with disabilities, Ho was prompted to act and set up PKSCI to secure her child’s future.
“I fear about the uncertainties in Jonathan’s future as he needs supervision. Someone must be there to organise his daily activities.
“As parents and caregivers, we prepare and guide them so that they can live their lives beyond our shadow. By being proactive and preparing our special needs children for the future, we can, hopefully, help them lead meaningful lives,” she says.
PKSCI currently helps 23 young adults who either have autism, Down syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or Asperger’s Syndrome.
The centre is run by parents who volunteer their time and services. A special needs teacher and an assistant teacher are employed to guide these young adults with disabilities.
Chia and the the other young adults do basic tasks like packing sauces for fast-food chains at the centre’s workspace. They also paint and make necklaces, and other ornaments for sale. They receive an allowance based on earnings received from sales and from donations.
“They earn between RM100 and RM400 depending on the sales of their finished products. However, our business has slowed down since the pandemic as we haven’t been able to participate in bazaars,” says Ho.
“Our biggest challenge is managing the high operation costs of the centre as well as coming up with a viable business model to keep us running. A steady cash flow is an integral part of a successful social enterprise and we sometimes struggle with this,” Ho shares.
But despite the challenges, Ho continues to persevere. She is determined to establish a centre where people with ASD and other disabilities can find work and earn an income.
“It’s a place where they can be productive and, more importantly, a place where they feel like they belong,” she concludes.
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