Testimonial of People with Disabilities

Second Chance for Open Employment

Mr Koh Teck Heng, age 43 is a stroke patient.

Previously, Mr Koh was a frequent business traveler before he suffered a stroke at age of 37. He became wheelchair bound and lost some mobility for his motor functions. For the past six years, he stayed at home unable to work.

He attends regular physiotherapy at the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD). In April 2007, the Social Worker of SPD suggested that he enrolled for the IT training program and he has never looked back.

Mr Koh had never touched a computer in his life. He learned how to turn on a computer, how to use a mouse, keyboard and the basic functions of Microsoft Office programs. He was exposed to a whole new horizon of cyber space as he learned to email and surf internet.

‘I love computer! The course had given me confidence and removed my fear towards computer. I used Excel to manage my personal budget, email to keep in touch with my friends and uses internet search engine to find information instead of spending long hours to queue at counters. There is so much to learn in the cyber space!’, said Mr Koh of his experience in learning IT.

In December 2007, Mr Koh secured a job with Kentucky Fried Chicken’s as a call centre operator. He takes home delivery order and keys them into the computer system. The newly acquired IT skills had provided Mr Koh with a second chance for employment and to be independent again.

Discover Her Talent in Web Design

Ms Irene Toh has been a housewife for the past 20 years. When her children grew up, she hoped to rejoin the workforce. At age of 48 and wheelchair-bound due to polio, she wants to improve her chances of employment by learning IT skills.

She immediately enrolled for the IT training when the Social Worker of SPD told her about the program.

Her interest for IT and web design program is unstoppable. Ms Toh progressed to Intermediate Level on web design and discovered her digital creative talent. She also learned to use email and surf the internet. Today, she is more confident in helping her son with school project work involving the usage of computer.

In December 2007, Ms Toh joined Fischer Bell Pte Ltd, a top quality safety and industrial supplier in Singapore and Asia as an Administrative Executive. She applies the skills and knowledge she gained from the IT program in her job to prepare quotations / invoice / delivery orders and letters.