Enabling her to fulfil her full potential
The TL;DR: Ms Nur Arfa Taqiah Mohamad Noor Azhar was once worried that her disabilities meant she would not be able to find an internship. But she landed a rewarding job with the assistance of SG Enable, the focal agency for disability in Singapore.
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Nur Arfa Taqiah Mohamad Noor Azhar benefited from the Enabling Pathway Programme, interning at SBS Transit.
PHOTO: SG ENABLE
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Ms Nur Arfa Taqiah Mohamad Noor Azhar, 18, is now a technician at SBS Transit – a position she never thought she could attain because of her physical condition.
At the age of 12, in 2018, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease. An unexpected side effect of the medication led to severe hearing loss in both ears. Although hearing aids help, she still misses certain sounds or words.
In multiple sclerosis, the communication between the brain and body is disrupted, resulting in muscle weakness and brittle bones. Because of the disease, she cannot stand for long and has to use a walking stick.
The Sembawang Secondary School alumna pursued a Nitec in mechatronics and robotics at ITE College West, but was uncertain if she could obtain an internship.
Fortunately, she was shortlisted for the Enabling Pathway Programme through ITE, which connected her with disability and inclusion agency SG Enable.
A partnership between SIM People Development Fund, SG Enable and ITE, the programme aims to boost long-term employment opportunities for students with disabilities, especially in technical positions in high-growth industries.
Ms Arfa is one of the first batch of students under the programme, which now has SBS Transit as an employer partner. There are plans to add more.
SG Enable worked with her class adviser to help her land a role in the signalling department at SBS Transit’s Sengkang Depot’s Component Service Centre in July 2024.
“At first, I was nervous about starting my internship, as I had never worked before and was unsure of what to expect. I was worried that my colleagues would judge me as I use a walking stick,” she said.
Ms Arfa’s worries were put to rest as her job coach at SG Enable worked closely with SBS Transit to ensure that the workplace was safe and accessible to her.
She also said she felt supported by her teammates and supervisor at SBS Transit, who adjusted her work tasks around her disabilities. “For instance, my supervisors assigned me tasks that I could carry out while seated, enabling me to contribute effectively without putting too much physical strain on me.”
To make sure she did not miss out on anything because of her hearing difficulties, her team wrote down notes and instructions for her and also used live captions during online meetings so she could follow the discussions.
Her work mainly involves measuring printed circuit boards, supporting repair processes, and conducting continuity tests and component inspections as part of routine system checks. She also handles administrative tasks, such as tracking instrument calibrations.
“What I find most rewarding is knowing that every task I do here contributes to the smooth operation of our rail network. I feel happy knowing that my work has a meaningful impact on society,” she said.
Nur Arfa Taqiah Mohamad Noor Azhar’s work mainly involves measuring printed circuit boards, supporting repair processes, and conducting continuity tests and component inspections as part of routine system checks.
PHOTO: SG ENABLE
From student to full-time employee
After completing her internship from July to November 2024, Ms Arfa enrolled in the work-study diploma in land transport engineering (rail) at ITE, which was fully sponsored by SBS Transit. She rejoined its signalling department at Sengkang Depot’s Component Service Centre as a technician.
Said Mr Edward Chew, director of employment and employability at SG Enable: “Arfa’s progression from an intern to a full-time employee as a technician exemplifies the impact of the Enabling Pathway Programme: When there is a strong support system in place to empower persons with disabilities – from committed employers to supportive job coaches – they are equally capable in excelling in their jobs and maintaining their employment.”
To date, five students with disabilities from ITE have completed their internships with SBS Transit and three have been hired as full-time staff with full sponsorships for their work-study diplomas. SG Enable said that through the programme, 10 ITE students will have the opportunity to participate in six-to-nine-month internships in SBS Transit annually for the next two years.
When classes start in early April, Ms Arfa will spend four days a week at Sengkang Depot and one day in school.
She said her schools have supported her. “At ITE and my previous schools, there’s a buddy system where a classmate is assigned to accompany me to my various classes. The school also has lifts and ramps, but I prefer to take the stairs.” She also gets extra time during exams and can use accessible tools for practical exams.
For her, the leap from intern to full-time technician is a milestone.
“Becoming a full-time employee is a big step for me. As an intern, I still felt like a student, but now, as a technician, it feels more official.”
Of programmes like the Enabling Pathway Programme, she said: “I know that many of my friends with disabilities share similar concerns about employment, but programmes like this show that with the right support, we can build meaningful careers like anyone else.”
