Apr-Jun 2023: Wendy New

View Wendy's Bio

Wendy New

Fellow

Wendy brings to the table over 25 years of experience in the field of early childhood education. Having served as an educator at the NIEC (ITE) campus for almost a decade, Wendy is now a Centre Manager and Chief Educational Therapist at Imagine If. In this capacity, she takes on the crucial responsibility of planning, implementing, and refining curriculum objectives for behavior, social, motor, communication, and academics for her inclusive preschool and kindergarten classes. These classes comprise children who have been diagnosed with developmental delays and disorders such as autism, global developmental delay, dyspraxia, and intellectual disability.

 

Why did you choose to work in the field of SpLD?

My first encounter with children of special needs was when I first joined the Early Childhood field. When the boy with autism in my class can recognized me and started to respond to me appropriately, the sense of achievement became my motto to work with children with special needs. Since then, I always reach out to children with special needs whether as a teacher in the early childhood field or as a lecturer in the Institute of higher learning. Thus, after a health scare, I decided to work full time as an Educational Therapist.

What is one thing that never fails to make you smile in the work that you do?

The smile on the face of my students when they are able to get the concepts and improve in their studies. The “I can do this” attitude when they realised that they can do it when they applied the concepts that were introduced to them during our sessions.

What do you think is the most important quality/value/belief a person must have when working in the field of Special Education?

Always honour and respect the children. Don’t shortchange them by thinking they cannot do it because it’s difficult for them. Respect them and honour them by believing that they can do it by giving them time and the right concept to help them.

What is the one thing you would do to improve special education in your country?

To create more awareness of the ability of the children of special needs when we do not underestimate them by giving them an education that over protect them. Help more educators to understand and believe in the abilities of these children by giving them more time and space.

What motivated you to become a RETA member and how has it benefitted you?

The excellent support given in avenues for resources such as conferences, publications, teaching materials, current affairs and marketing for clients.

What advice would you give someone who has special educational needs or lives/works with people with special educational needs?

Believe in yourself/the children and allow them to be in an environment that allow them to be more resilient and self aware; let your/their natural intelligence be uncovered rather smothered because of their special educational needs.