Decentralised Open Houses - MINDS
Decentralised Open Houses - MINDS
Decentralised Open Houses - MINDS
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Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore<br />
800 Margaret Drive,<br />
Singapore 149310<br />
MEDIA RELEASE<br />
Embargoed till 7 July 2012<br />
<strong>MINDS</strong>’ MONTH OF PUBLIC AWARENESS FOR PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL<br />
DISABILITY<br />
SINGAPORE, 07 JULY 2012 - The Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore<br />
(<strong>MINDS</strong>) will be hosting a series of ‘<strong>Open</strong> <strong>Houses</strong>’ and events in the entire month of July till<br />
August to raise awareness on intellectual disability in Singapore. <strong>MINDS</strong>’ schools, adult centres<br />
and residential home will host their respective ‘<strong>Open</strong> <strong>Houses</strong>’ at their premises located island<br />
wide. Various members of parliament, caregivers, volunteers and various community partners<br />
are expected to attend the functions.<br />
The organisation which turned 50 this year is concentrating its efforts to foster greater<br />
understanding and better relationship between <strong>MINDS</strong> schools and centres and their local<br />
communities. <strong>MINDS</strong> understands that acceptance and integration of its beneficiaries into society<br />
hinges on awareness and support from its heartland communities. These events seek to<br />
encourage members of public dwelling near a <strong>MINDS</strong> school or centre to visit the <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Houses</strong><br />
and learn about persons with intellectual disability.<br />
The first of the ‘<strong>Open</strong> <strong>Houses</strong>’ was held on 7 July 2012 at <strong>MINDS</strong>-Towner Gardens School with<br />
BG Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister of State for the Ministry of National Development and Ministry of<br />
Manpower gracing the event as Guest-Of-Honour. Concurrently, Dr Lam Pin Min, MP of<br />
Sengkang West was invited on the same day, to officiate the <strong>Open</strong> House at <strong>MINDS</strong>-Fernvale<br />
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Gardens School. Both ‘<strong>Open</strong> <strong>Houses</strong>’ featured performances, game stalls and sale of products<br />
made by beneficiaries at <strong>MINDS</strong>.<br />
<strong>MINDS</strong> will also be holding a public exhibition from 27 to 29 July, with Minister of Education, Mr<br />
Heng Swee Keat as Guest-Of-Honor to grace the event as well as launch a special 'Caregivers<br />
Resource Pack’; a series of five handbooks, published by <strong>MINDS</strong> to help caregivers better<br />
understand and support their children.<br />
- End -<br />
About <strong>MINDS</strong>:<br />
Movement for the Intellectually Disabled was founded in May 1962 by a group of<br />
philanthropists who saw the need to provide equal opportunities for children with<br />
intellectual disabilities to receive education and later, to be integrated as contributing and<br />
responsible citizens in Singapore.<br />
<strong>MINDS</strong> is one of Singapore’s oldest and largest voluntary welfare organizations, and has<br />
11 facilities - 4 Special Education Schools, 3 Employment Development Centres, 3<br />
Training and Development Centres, 1 Multi-purpose Residential Services- catering to the<br />
needs of persons with moderate to severe intellectual disability in Singapore.<br />
To know more, visit http://www.minds.org.sg/<br />
For further information, pls contact:<br />
Brenda Lee<br />
Corporate Communciations Executive<br />
DID: 6479 5655 Ext: 240<br />
Mobile: 9730 1044<br />
Email: brendalee.hq@minds.org.sg<br />
(Note: Please see attached document for details of ‘<strong>Open</strong> <strong>Houses</strong>’ and events)<br />
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