A story by Hay Qing Hui
In 2015, I partnered with APSN Tanglin School to create 50 digital stories to celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday.
APSN or Association for Persons with Special Needs is a social service agency that provides special education, vocational training and employment support services for individuals with mild intellectual disability (IQ 50-70).
The digital stories come from the children, teachers, alumnus, parents, and volunteers. I really cringe when stories are shared that highlight only pitiful, pathetic lives. Lisa Ow, the then school principal, wanted the stories to celebrate their lives and accomplishments.
She said persons with special needs can live meaningful lives. She went on to share how one of their graduates was hired to be their gardener. Another went on to work at a petrol station. Alumnus Qing Hui, featured in the video, became an assistant teacher at his school.
I set the interview questions. APSN Tanglin teachers interviewed the storytellers since they knew best how to relate to the children with special needs. They did the first round of scripting and helped gathered photos, and also recorded the voiceovers. I edited the stories, put the music and images together to produce all 50 stories. The project took 6 months to complete.
Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanise. Stories can break the dignity of a people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity.
― Chimamanda Adichie