INTRODUCTION
Asia Community Service was established in October 1996, as a non-profit organisation by its founder members Professor Ken Nakazawa, Ms Khor Ai-Na, Ms Kong Lan Lee and the late Assoc Prof Dr Angeline S B. Cheah. The main vision is to empower people with special needs towards a more meaningful and fulfilling life in he society. The focus, however, is targeted towards young children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
The organization is currently run by an CEO and governed by a five member Board of Directors, namely
The main objective of the organisation then was to translate words into action. Hence the beginning of the service deliveries.
CHRONOLOGY OF SERVICES
| 1997 April |
started First Step Early Intervention Centre in a rented premise in Medan Tembaga, Island Park |
| 1999 October |
First Step Centre moved to another rented premise in Minden Heights |
| 2000 February |
started Stepping Stone Work Centre in a rented premise in Taman Sri Genting, Balik Pulau |
| 2000 July |
started Riding for Disabled Activities in Penang |
| 2001 January |
started Step (Skills Training & Employment Preparation) Centre in Kompleks Sri Relau |
| 2001 April |
started Jom Mobile Toy Library with the donation of a Rusa Van from the Senuma family |
| 2004 May |
Stepping Stone moved to its new current building in Pulau Betong |
| 2004 December |
closure of Step Training Centre after trainees gained experience in outside job placements |
| 2005 July |
Mutiara Voice Self Advocacy Club was born |
| 2008 December |
Jom Mobile Toy Library received a Toyota Unser from Jactim Foundation |
| 2009 April |
First Step Centre relocated to current premise in Gelugor |
| 2009 May |
First Step Centre stated a branch in Seberang Jaya on mainland Penang |
| 2010 March |
started Pemancar House Respite Care Support Centre in Gelugor |
| 2013 |
introduce Job Coach services |
PARTNERSHIP
In the past few years, ACS has successfully carried out several joint projects with Bold Association for Children with Special Needs Penang. Due to the similarity of goals, objectives and common grounds in shared values and approaches on special needs and disabilities issues, both organisations see many more possibilities of pooling resources to synergize towards providing better services for the special needs population.
In 2009, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in August to formalize this partnership.
ACS is also a founding member of the National Early Childhood Intervention Council and plays an active role with its CEO in the position of the Vice President of the NECIC. |
