Key takeaways:

• Mr Tamil & Mr Lim are both clients of SPD under the transition to employment programme (TTE)
• After each of them having gone through treatment at SPD for their ailments, both Mr Tamil & Mr Lim were able to find jobs working at MBS

Mr Tamil and Mr Lim were clients at the Transition to Employment programme (TTE) at SPD. After having persevered through their challenges with the help from SPD staff, Mr Tamil & Mr Lim were able to score a job at Marina Bay Sands (MBS), an employer who provides job opportunities to persons with disabilities.

Mr Tamil Selvan and Mr Lim Boon Tiong were clients at SPD under the Transition to Employment (TTE) programme. With their perseverance and assistance from SPD staff, Mr Tamil and Mr Lim were able to get a job at Marina Bay Sands (MBS), an employer who provides job opportunities to persons with disabilities.

Upon meeting Mr Tamil in person, one would not expect that he’s a survivor of four strokes and five spinal surgeries in the last 15 years. With the help of SPD, Mr Tamil now walks without a mobility aid, albeit slower in movement. When he first started therapy at SPD, Mr Tamil always made it a point to attend the sessions as he strongly believes that it would help him.

Furthermore, in view of his financial situation, his therapy and transport fees were subsidised by SPD, further movtivating him to make an effort on his part. “So, I must come”, he said when being interviewed by senior analyst Poh Sho Siam.

Encouragements from TTE staff also gave Mr Tamil more confidence during his therapy sessions. Mr Tamil also believes that staying active is key and not just staying at home watching television.

Working at MBS has been an eye opener for Mr Tamil who used to be a storekeeper and security guard. There, he gets to meet numerous people from various nationalities. Besides being more active and healthier at work, he feels that work perks him up. For that, Mr Tamil is grateful to the TTE staff for their help during his therapy sessions as well as Mr Erwin Tan, his employment support specialist for facilitating his employment at MBS. With this job, Mr Tamil is able to support both himself and his elderly mother.

Mr Tamil’s advice for those who are facing difficulties in their recovery journey is to not lose hope and to not listen to people who discourage you. Despite his multiple strokes and surgeries, Mr Tamil still maintains an optimistic outlook in life which is admirable and a positive example to others.

Mr Lim, who is a friend of Mr Tamil having both met during therapy at TTE shares the same sentiment as Mr Tamil. Having had his right knee amputated due to complications resulting from diabetes. He uses a prosthetic limb which primarily took some time getting used to and required several fittings and trails to find a suitable one. Mr Lim is now able to walk around slowly, though he uses a motorised wheelchair outside of home.

After seeking treatment for more than a year in TTE, Mr Lim’s confidence and conditioned improved. Initially, Mr Lim had to stop working after acquiring his disability which was a strain to his disability which was a strain to his finances. When interviewed, Mr Lim, in his quiet disposition, said that he was very happy to be working at MBS as he appreciates how kind and accepting his colleagues are. Mr Lim’s colleagues would often readily extend their assistance to him such as getting him a chair. He went on to describe his job as the “best job in Singapore!”.

When it was time to take some photos, it was Mr Lim who suggested the background, one of which was SPD’s front gate, as remembrance.

Mr Tamil and Mr Lim at the front gate of SPD Ability Centre

We are glad that both Mr Tamil and Mr Lim are settling well in their new jobs and wish them all the best! We would also like to applaud MBS for being an inclusive employer and hope that this would encourage more companies to focus on the abilities of persons with disabilities and offer them a chance at employment.

At the point of posting this article, we learnt that Mr Tamil had another minor stroke. He is recuperating at home and is expected to return to work in April. We wish Mr Tamil a speedy recovery.