Parents of children in special education schools welcomed the new job‑support measures, but they warned that the true challenge is keeping workers employed over the long term.

A government task force has recommended enhancing work exposure and job support for people with disabilities, including structured applied learning and job tasters in SPED schools starting in 2027.

From 2027, the Ministry of Education will add these structured programmes to SPED schools that follow the national curriculum, while students with disabilities at ITE and polytechnics will also receive stronger work‑skills training and exposure.

The Ministry of Manpower reported that, as of 2025, only 24.4 % of employed residents with disabilities had stayed with the same employer for at least one year, and just 2.2 % remained for seven years or more.

Employers said that longer‑term job coaching, job redesign and the Enabling Employment Grant are essential tools to help retain employees with disabilities.

Ms Lee Hwee Boon, head of group human resources at OCBC, explained that matching the right role and providing appropriate support enabled the bank’s autistic staff to succeed in their positions.

These perspectives show why short‑term hiring is not enough; sustained workplace accommodations and ongoing coaching are needed to turn a job offer into a lasting career.