Singapore apprenticeship program aids disabled people in readying for employment

From The Straits Times in Singapore:

Wheelchair-bound Ms Lee Pei Ling (pictured), 30, used to sit at home and play computer games because the challenge of finding a job she could do seemed impossible.

But she is now gainfully employed as a graphic designer after undergoing a programme run by the Infocomm Accessibility Centre. The centre is managed by the Society for the Physically Disabled.

The IT Apprenticeship Programme (ITAP) provides training and internships in corporate services, multimedia, or music and video production for people with disabilities.

The programme started about a year ago has currently 34 enrolled. Already 20 have completed the course and received their certificates yesterday at a ceremony. Of them, seven have already found jobs.

Ms Lee, who became wheelchair-bound at 18 after a failed operation, began ITAP's multimedia programme last year. Since last December, she has worked from home for an education consultancy company, producing designs for items such as posters and murals.

'Every piece of work that is accepted makes me happy. It's a sense of satisfaction,' she said.