From Meltdowns to
Morning Cups of Joy
From Meltdowns
to Morning
Cups of Joy
From Meltdowns
to Morning
Cups of Joy
At each Kopi Teh Makan pop-up, Sean greets customers with a grin and a thumbs-up. With people he knows, he sometimes presses his thumb to theirs — an endearing habit that signals connection and validation. Friendly and smiley, it’s hard to imagine the challenges the 29-year-old faced to get here.
At each Kopi Teh Makan pop-up, Sean greets customers with a grin and a thumbs-up. With people he knows, he sometimes presses his thumb to theirs — an endearing habit that signals connection and validation. Friendly and smiley, it’s hard to imagine the challenges the 29-year-old faced to get here.
Childhood Challenges
Childhood Challenges
Diagnosed with PDD – NOS (pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified), now classified under autism at age 4, Sean was prone to frequent meltdowns and physical outbursts. To support him, his family moved to the United Kingdom for a more inclusive environment. Returning back to Singapore, they moved to Siglap to be near St Andrew’s Autism Centre and adapted their home in thoughtful ways: cupboards with no door handles, soft-closing doors and cupboards to prevent breakage, fixed chairs to stop him from rocking, timers around the house to help him manage routines, and full-length mirrors to teach self-awareness of his facial expressions and gestures.
Diagnosed with PDD – NOS (pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified), now classified under autism at age 4, Sean was prone to frequent meltdowns and physical outbursts. To support him, his family moved to the United Kingdom for a more inclusive environment. Returning back to Singapore, they moved to Siglap to be near St Andrew’s Autism Centre and adapted their home in thoughtful ways: cupboards with no door handles, soft-closing doors and cupboards to prevent breakage, fixed chairs to stop him from rocking, timers around the house to help him manage routines, and full-length mirrors to teach self-awareness of his facial expressions and gestures.
His room looks like any other young man’s — a neatly arranged wardrobe, shelves of Star Wars and Marvel books, and a display of sports medals and trophies — but there are subtle touches like designed blackout curtains to block out light and reduce noise so as to sleep better and a space for morning meditative practices accommodate his needs.
His room looks like any other young man’s — a neatly arranged wardrobe, shelves of Star Wars and Marvel books, and a display of sports medals and trophies — but there are subtle touches like designed blackout curtains to block out light and reduce noise so as to sleep better and a space for morning meditative practices accommodate his needs.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, isolation heightened Sean’s frustration, sometimes leading to aggression. To help him cope, his mother, Suit Fong, a mindfulness practitioner and trainer, introduced self-regulation and emotional calming and resilience building exercises like simple pause measures, deep breathing, belly breathing, walking meditation, such as long evening walks at East Coast Park and in the neighborhood, and other related training.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, isolation heightened Sean’s frustration, sometimes leading to aggression. To help him cope, his mother, Suit Fong, a mindfulness practitioner and trainer, introduced self-regulation and emotional calming and resilience building exercises like simple pause measures, deep breathing, belly breathing, walking meditation, such as long evening walks at East Coast Park and in the neighborhood, and other related training.
Despite Sean being minimally verbal, she spoke with him, offered choices, and let him explore at his own pace — helping him grow more independent and raising awareness of self and others.
Despite Sean being minimally verbal, she spoke with him, offered choices, and let him explore at his own pace — helping him grow more independent and raising awareness of self and others.
Kopi Teh MAKAN - A New Beginning
Kopi Teh MAKAN - A New Beginning
When Sean joined Kopi Teh Makan, a 9-month vocational programme by Ray of Hope, Flour Power, and Foundry, it was his very first micro-job training, a momentous step for him and his family, which felt both exciting and daunting. His family wondered if he could manage frontline F&B work.
When Sean joined Kopi Teh Makan, a 9-month vocational programme by Ray of Hope, Flour Power, and Foundry, it was his very first micro-job training, a momentous step for him and his family, which felt both exciting and daunting. His family wondered if he could manage frontline F&B work.
With challenges in coordination, motor skills, and verbal communication and discomfort with large groups, Sean’s parents thought back-end work like horticulture might suit him better.
With challenges in coordination, motor skills, and verbal communication and discomfort with large groups, Sean’s parents thought back-end work like horticulture might suit him better.
But Flour Power encouraged Sean to give it a try. To Suit Fong’s surprise, he passed the interview and completed the training, gaining hands-on experience preparing and serving coffee and tea.
But Flour Power encouraged Sean to give it a try. To Suit Fong’s surprise, he passed the interview and completed the training, gaining hands-on experience preparing and serving coffee and tea.
“We weren’t sure he’d be ready for the front counter,” says Yeo Hiok Keat, chief executive of Flour Power. “But Sean surprised us — he picked up coffee preparation quickly, learned workplace etiquette, and engaged warmly with customers. His confidence grew with every interaction.”
“We weren’t sure he’d be ready for the front counter,” says Yeo Hiok Keat, chief executive of Flour Power. “But Sean surprised us — he picked up coffee preparation quickly, learned workplace etiquette, and engaged warmly with customers. His confidence grew with every interaction.”
Even now, he can become dysregulated or overwhelmed in crowded spaces, shifting back and forth or making loud noises. “Anyone can feel overwhelmed but the key is managing it. Sean is learning that step by step as KTM offers such great real-life opportunities for him to practice…We are eternally grateful,” Suit Fong reflects.
Even now, he can become dysregulated or overwhelmed in crowded spaces, shifting back and forth or making loud noises. “Anyone can feel overwhelmed but the key is managing it. Sean is learning that step by step as KTM offers such great real-life opportunities for him to practice…We are eternally grateful,” Suit Fong reflects.
Growing Independence
Growing Independence
Through KTM, Sean’s family has noticed a growing independence and social awareness, as well as an enhanced comfort and ability to connect with others. His mother observes that the many small tasks — preparing coffee and tea, following instructions, and interacting with strangers in different settings — have helped him engage more confidently with people in ways he hadn’t before.
Through KTM, Sean’s family has noticed a growing independence and social awareness, as well as an enhanced comfort and ability to connect with others. His mother observes that the many small tasks — preparing coffee and tea, following instructions, and interacting with strangers in different settings — have helped him engage more confidently with people in ways he hadn’t before.
“The biggest change was when Sean came to me and asked if I was proud of him,” she recalls. “The joy he showed in that moment came straight from the heart. His inner pure joy lasted into the next morning, and I remember thinking, ‘Wow, the sun is shining extra brightly today.’ That inner happiness from Sean— it’s not something you can measure, and it had nothing to do with me. I told myself, ‘This is a real gift.’ I found inner peace too”
“The biggest change was when Sean came to me and asked if I was proud of him,” she recalls. “The joy he showed in that moment came straight from the heart. His inner pure joy lasted into the next morning, and I remember thinking, ‘Wow, the sun is shining extra brightly today.’ That inner happiness from Sean— it’s not something you can measure, and it had nothing to do with me. I told myself, ‘This is a real gift.’ I found inner peace too”
Sean’s growth extends beyond the programme. He enjoys basketball, cycling, the gym, and word searches, often immersing himself in them for hours. His family is also growing independent living skills, leaving him at home alone with longer planned trips without him — most recently a holiday to see the Northern Lights — allowing him to navigate life on his own, testing his support system without his mother as main caregiver.
Sean’s growth extends beyond the programme. He enjoys basketball, cycling, the gym, and word searches, often immersing himself in them for hours. His family is also growing independent living skills, leaving him at home alone with longer planned trips without him — most recently a holiday to see the Northern Lights — allowing him to navigate life on his own, testing his support system without his mother as main caregiver.
While the future remains open, his mother emphasises that the focus is to respect his choices, not give up and continue to build his resilience to face life challenges ahead.
While the future remains open, his mother emphasises that the focus is to respect his choices, not give up and continue to build his resilience to face life challenges ahead.
“Sometimes we wonder, as we are aging, if we're ready for Sean-related new challenges?” she reflects. “For now, it’s about him choosing what he wants to do with options available, and us and other inclusive organisations supporting and preparing him along the way. So, let’s see how it goes.”
“Sometimes we wonder, as we are aging, if we're ready for Sean-related new challenges?” she reflects. “For now, it’s about him choosing what he wants to do with options available, and us and other inclusive organisations supporting and preparing him along the way. So, let’s see how it goes.”