Bandar Seri Begawan - Smarter Brunei is sailing its over-crowded ship into dangerous waters and urgently requires a new ship that it cannot afford.

The organisation is still short of $1.8 million out of the $1.9 million required to purchase its own premises to accommodate its ever-growing number of students.

Amidst international recognition of its curriculum, SMARTER Brunei fears that its extraordinary achievements will be in vain.

It is now appealing for authorities at higher level as well as the society at large for financial support to secure the remaining $1.8 million.

With its over-crowded centre in Sengkurong, which was lent by the government for a five-year duration with only two years to go, things do not look good.

Without new premises, it may not be able to begin work.

The organisation needs to generate its own revenues in order to sustain the $21,000 monthly expenses, which currently comes mainly from donations.

Recognised as a leading regional body that provides world-class quality services according to the Head of Disability Studies at Flinders University in Australia, Associate Professor Dr Verity Bottroff, the Bulletin learnt that it also fears a much bigger problem.

"Time is our enemy," said its President, Malai Haji Abdullah Malai Haji Othman.

SMARTER Brunei stands for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources - a society run by parents for lindividuals With Autism (IWA).

"We need a new ship, a much bigger ship to sail us towards our goals, without it, all these achievements and recognitions will go down the drain," said its president.

The new premises is ready for occupation but the organisation is unable to acquire it. SMARTER Brunei's effort to seek financing from banks has also resulted in failure.

According to its president, this is because banks still do not recognise the centre as an NGO and as such, treat the centre as a business entity.

The new premises will serve multiple purposes fat beyond from being a symbolic gesture of its own achievements.

It will also serve as a training cum employment centre for autistic people, according to its president.

Offering to do something for society, autistic people can get involved in work such as repairing air-conditioners and servicing vehicles for example. This goal, if realised, will provide both employment for autistic people and assist them in standing on their own two feet by finding their place in society.

Trained in psychology, the centre's president has a passion for SMARTER Brunei and refuses to give up ever since the idea of establishing the centre was realised on September 9, 2001.

But he also fears the worse for SMARTER Brunei, that without the ability to become self-sustaining, it very well could meet its end one day.

SMARTER Brunei has matched International Standards, based on the 14 areas laid out in its Autism Programme Quality Indicator (APQI, New York, 2001).

The centre has also met all 19 items stated in the charter for persons with autism as stated by the European parliament on May 9, 1996.

And just recently the centre was visited by professional trainers from the National Autism Society based in South Yorkshire of the United Kingdom, who also considered SMARTER Brunei to be on par with the best autism centres in the UK.

At present, SMARTER Brunei provides services and facilities for IWA from cradle to grave in a seamless journey to independence.

The centre Supports, Facilitates and Enhances (SAFE) the education, development and growth of IWA and their families.

This also helps other therapists, the community and professionals in different fields to help achieve the SMARTER vision of an autism friendly nation.

SMARTER Brunei stated that through all the services provided for IWA, they never forget to care `collaborate and coordinate, advocate their rights and provide the services they need, recognise areas for improvement educate them and make individualised programme plans'.

It has successfully organised six conferences, nine fund-raising activities, two world autism awareness activities as well as host a lot of workshops for parents, professionals and the community to increase autism awareness. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Comments (1)

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Support them why not
written by Awang , November 12, 2009

SMARTER Brunei deserve support in all area especially financially and as such HM Goverment should play a more serious role thru various Ministry like Health , Education , Welfare to name a few . It is necessary for senior goverment officers to make a visit to thier centre and see for themself of what is the voice out there that needs attention .

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