August 2000....

.... that was the time Mr Ong join BK through Joseph :-)

I still remember taking care of Tua Tee (some of you might remember), for the benefit of the rest, he is down syndrome, late 30s, no verbal comm, understand hokkien, very small-build... i still remember he didn't response much to me and basically we just walk around the compound .... very much like Jee Ban.

there was little development for him and frankly, it can be quite disappointing for someone new to people with intellectual disability ... and discouraging as well ... Tua Tee ultimately quit BK because of violent conduct at home and he was brought to IMH ... i remember visiting him there twice... the condition there was bad... the only comfort i gain was during the visits, though he is expressionless... he did seem to understand what i am telling him... but now i completely lost touch of him.... just hope things are fine with him!

Sometimes i wonder how much impact we can have on our trainees... the growth may not seem significant over the years.... but it is the companionship/love from their closed ones that really have an effect on them ... as well as on ourselves...

looking at BL.. i can't help but wonder how much difference of a person he would be if he was to stay with his family instead of being placed in the nursing home? he definitely would have achieved as much as anyone in GrpA if he has the family support.... he was there for many many years (was put in the home because of violent conduct)....

Are they being understood? What triggered the violence for both of them?

... think it is the lack of understanding and the inability of expressing themselves.... if ppl are able to understand/empathise their needs (being more tolerance and patience -> more public education) and provide proper guidance/training (the existence of BK with your presence) to facilitate them to express themselves, i believe the violent behaviour would have greatly reduced ler...

-choon seng