About 5 Pillars

Year after year, I pursued additional courses, upgraded my knowledge, and connected with other schools and professionals to understand different approaches to teaching and supporting children with special needs. I was fortunate to have wonderful mentors throughout this journey, and I remain deeply grateful to the organisation that believed in me, trusted me, and gave me the opportunity to grow.

Over the years, my work evolved from teaching children to truly understanding how to empower them and their families. I worked with children with autism, intellectual disabilities, learning difficulties and other developmental disabilities — supporting them in areas ranging from early intervention and school inclusion to vocational training and independent living skills. I've had the opportunity to train young people in practical vocational skills such as baking, cooking, greeting-card making, keychain making and office-related work. Some have gone on to become part of the workforce, while many have developed greater independence and confidence in their everyday lives.

But somewhere along the way, I realised that supporting the child alone was not enough — parents needed to be empowered too. Parents are their child's first and most important teachers; they need to understand not only what to teach, but how to teach it, how to respond to challenges, and how to carry those skills from the classroom into everyday life. This led me to begin one-on-one sessions with an open-door approach — inviting parents to observe, ask questions, and learn how to continue supporting their child at home.

After years of working with children and families, I felt it was time to create a space of my own — a place where children could receive individualised support and parents could feel heard, included and empowered. That vision became 5 Pillars Autism and Special Needs Support. Every child I meet teaches me something new, and every small achievement — whether reading a first sentence, communicating a need, or becoming more independent — reminds me that progress may look different for every child, but every step matters.