Our Story
Growing Together Since 2013
Shining Star Learning Hub (SSLH) began in 2013 with a simple yet powerful mission: to be able to do more for children and families with disabilities. Founded by Jessica Sumithra and Lee Yu Ying, SSLH envisioned a learning community where everyone could learn, grow and thrive. This includes children, parents, families, and ourselves – the SSLH team and our dedicated network of professionals in the community.
We started by providing early intervention and school shadowing for children, understanding the importance of parents being involved. We soon realised that solely focusing on 'fixing' and protecting the child wasn't enough and right. More is needed.
Our Child as our Lead
We started to listen to our children, more in-depth, in deciding what's helpful and what's not for a child's growth and development. We recognise that our children need more than just intensive work of building the 'right' behaviours. We are to help our children to be supported to grow as a person with the right values and understanding, living a meaningful life, growing together with family and friends, and empowered to contribute and to be part of the community.
Parent Empowerment & Family Centred
We have started early on by focusing on building the pillars of a child's life - the parents and the main caretakers. Parents are empowered through the right understanding and skill-building, for parents to confidently make suitable decisions for their children and their family. We want parents to know what we know, and to be equipped to teach and guide their children, if possible, better than what we know.
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Emphasise on Opportunities
We established social platforms for our children and teens to build social skills naturally in a safe environment, with opportunities to connect with others. Our children are frequently out in the community. Our neighbouring eateries and mamak boss, hair salon's lady boss and grocery shop tauke and cashiers know our youngsters well. Together, the children experience many moments, being out for fun, for community outreach projects, sleepovers and camps and being there for each other.
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Community Engagements
Through the years, we have recognised the importance and the power of community connections. We build a Parent Community with Parent Get Together events for parents to connect and support each other. We have camps, outings and Special Week where we include the siblings in the journey, build stronger relationships with each other, and gather siblings across families to meet and connect.
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Strengthening the village that is bringing a child up, we reach out to connect and collaborate with fellow professionals to work across disciplines and to combine expertise, to provide services with better efficiency and better experiences for our children and families.
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Shining Star Learning Hub has also learned to play a more proactive role in connecting the community through training and empowering early educators, schools, fellow therapists and practitioners, fostering a network of confident stakeholders to be able to include and provide for our children and families.
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Continuous Learning
Now, entering our 11th year, SSLH carries the weight of accumulated experience and the responsibility to build a better community for our youngsters and families. The mission of being able to do more for children and families with neurodiversity is just as strong today as it was when we first opened our doors in 2013.
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Together, we shall continue to learn and pave forward with better changes.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower neurodiverse individuals and families living with disabilities,
with the necessary skills, the right knowledge and understanding
to lead an independent and meaningful life.
Our Team
Over the years, SSLH has cultivated a unique team. Diverse strengths complement each other, forming a resilient unit driven by a shared passion: continuous learning and serving with compassion.
Our team comprises individuals with backgrounds and professional training in psychology, behaviour analysis, education, Montessori and counselling. We are consulted by Occupational Therapy Consultant and Speech and Language Consultant, building a holistic Shining Star Learning Hub's method.
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Outside of work hours, you might find us grabbing lunch together, exploring new cafes and dessert spots, volunteering together, or even catching a game or two on the sports courts. We value our relationships, fostering strong bonds as colleagues and friends on this shared journey at Shining Star Learning Hub.
