Stories to Inspire
Lim Lin Li
ITAP trainee embarks on a road to better job prospects
Officially launched on 3 July 2008, the IT Apprenticeship Programme (ITAP) provides on-the-job training and structured courses to equip trainees with the necessary skills for employment. Mervyn Foo, a trainer with ITAP, describes the journey a trainee took and her successful internship placement after enrolling under the Programme.
18 August 2008 marked the beginning of a very special event in the life of ITAP trainee Lim Lin Li, 27. This is the commencement date of her internship as an Admissions Assistant at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH).
The evolution that led to this significant milestone is a heartwarming story of Lin Li's determination and the combined effort of the teams from SPD's Specialised Case Management Programme (SCMP), Specialised Assistive Technology Centre (ATC) and ITAP.
Lin Li, with her inherently pleasant character and heartwarming smile, is a young lady whom anyone would feel at ease with.
Yet beneath this friendly exterior lies a solid pillar of strength that can just as easily be a source of inspiration for many.
Weakened by a tumour in her spinal cord, Lin Li became a wheelchair-user at 13 years old. Rather than dwelling on her physical limitations, Lin Li soldiered on to finish her GCE 'O' Levels, scoring a distinction in Mathematics. She went on to complete her Diploma in Accountancy and Taxation at Nanyang Polytechnic.
The open employment arena proved another set of challenges that Lin Li would, unfortunately, become all too familiar with. Upon graduating, she found herself in direct competition with non-disabled people in a tight 'employers-market' economy. Despite her zeal and positive attitude, Lin Li was left to accept only parttime and temporary jobs that were offered to her, to help ease the financial burden of her family which included her mother and three younger school-going siblings.
Recognising Lin Li's greater potential, Flora Yu, a case management officer from SCMP, recommended her to ITAP. “SPD runs programmes that provide a holistic approach to meet the needs of people with disabilities. I was confident that she could accomplish her goals with us,” said Flora.
Seeking to provide a smooth transition for Lin Li into her workplace at KKH, the staff at ITAP worked closely with the occupational therapists at the Specialised ATC, who recommended AT devices that enhanced Lin Li's performance on the computer, and conducted site assessments to ensure that the workplace was suitable for her.
KKH is among the pioneer batch of organisations in partnership with ITAP to provide internship and/or employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Lin Li is one such trainee to benefit from the partnership and through her training with ITAP, feels ever more confident and prepared to perform her duties at her workplace.
“Finding a job on my own is difficult. With ITAP’s support and preparation, my new employer and colleagues are more willing to accept and understand me,” she shared.
Today, Lin Li handles patients' admission documentations and provides financial information to patients on ward charges and forms of payment. Seeing her success, I've become more determined than ever to achieve ITAP's goal of enhancing the skills and employability of our trainees. We wish Lin Li all the best in her career.