Relaxing the house rules: Opening up arts and sports to those with special needs in S’pore

Ms Deng Anqi and her son, Javan Lee, who has autism, watching Fatimah And Her Magic Socks at the Esplanade on March 9.

In fact, joining in was encouraged during Fatimah And Her Magic Socks, an interactive show at the Esplanade that caters to those with autism. Esplanade presented its first sensory-friendly performance in 2016 to cater to autistic children, against the perception that the theatre is a space that needs to be quiet and full of “house rules”.

It began piloting Relaxed Environment performances in 2022, including the free concert series Beautiful Sunday, held once a month. To prepare the children for what to expect, parents can download a pre-event guide that shows directions to the venue, the characters, and what the space will look like.Ms Deng Anqi and her son, Javan Lee, during a performance of Fatimah And Her Magic Socks, an interactive show at the Esplanade that caters to those with autism.

Ms Tan now bakes, dances and learns puppetry every week, and has joined at least six performances, including one where she was paid as part of a cast with theatre company Gateway Arts. The play included a relaxed sensory- and wheelchair-friendly setting, as well as creative captioning for the deaf, where text projected near the stage transcribed auditory elements of the show into English.

Her physiotherapist, whom she sees every two months to improve her muscle tone, recently said she could stop the sessions due to her progress. He now acts in plays as part of the programme with Singapore Theatre Company , and works front of house for the company’s plays. This is his first job. From being terrified of how people would react to him, he now asks his new friends out for a meal without thinking twice.He and six others will be professionally mentored in pursuing theatre by Ms Lee-Khoo and STC’s deputy artistic director, as well as receive guidance from a drama therapist on managing anxiety and relating to others.Singapore is also working towards more accessible sports facilities and activities, with plans for all ActiveSG gyms to be inclusive by 2026.

One of them is Mr Danial Bawthan, 30, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, which causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass, at the age of four.

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