Eunice Tan

Dr Eunice Tan

Head, Special Education Minor

S R Nathan School of Human Development

Tel: +65 6240 8864

Email: ZXVuaWNldGFubXlAc3Vzcy5lZHUuc2c=

Educational Qualifications

2019
Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education, Nanyang Technological University
Dissertation: A Study on the Perceptions of Parents and Teachers on Savant Skills of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

1997
Master of Education. University of Melbourne

1993
Post Graduate Diploma in Special Education. University of British Columbia

1992
Bachelor of Education. University of British Columbia

1989
Bachelor of Arts. University of British Columbia

Academic and Professional Experience

2019 - present
Head of Special Education, NSHD, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)

2017 - 2019

Assistant Divisional Director, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities

1998 - 2016
Teacher, School Principal and Curriculum Planner, Ministry of Education (MOE)

1994 - 1998
Special Education Teacher, Dover Court International School

  • Special Education / Autism
  1. "A Study on the Perceptions of Parents Savant Skills of Individuals with ASD." Keynote Speaker. World Congress on Down Syndrome, Autism & Cerebral Palsy, Tokyo, 21 – 23 Oct 2019.

  2. “A Study on the Perceptions of Parents on Savant Skills of Individuals with ASD”. World Congress on Special Needs Education (WCSNE), London, United Kingdom. December, 2019.

  3. “Strength-Based Approach For Children With Developmental Needs”. Early Childhood Conference by Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). Singapore. October, 2021.

  4. ‘Harnessing the Interest of Children with Special Needs to Maximise Learning Potential’. 5th World Conference on Research in Education (WORLDCRE). Paris, France. November, 2021.

  5. “Aptitudes, capabilities, and interests of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder”. 5th International Conference on Education, Teaching and Learning (IACETL). Vienna, Austria. June, 2022.

  6. ‘Improving pedagogical methodologies for children with special needs: A strength-based approach’ Keynote Speaker. Teaching and Education Summit Conference. Online. November, 2022.

  7. “Reaching out and motivating the ‘hard to teach’ child in your class”. Singapore Child Biennial Conference. Singapore. October, 2022.

  8. " The Incidence And Link Between Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Special Abilities". International Congress on Education and Learning. Pattaya, Thailand. December, 2022

  9. “The 'Unteachable' Child – Developing Instructional Pedagogies to Motivate”. The 9th Asian Conference on Education & International Development (ACEID2023). Tokyo, Japan. March 2023.



1. Abusalih, A. F., Tan, E., & de Cruz, N. (2023).
Associations between parental conflict and externalising behaviours in children with ASD in a local Singaporean sample: Parenting styles as a moderating mechanism. European Journal of Teaching and Education, 5(2), 13-35.

2. Chia, I., & Tan, E. (2023).
Unleashing the Artistic Ability of Students with Special Needs: Towards an Ability-Driven Paradigm in Special Education. In V. Zhuang, M.E. Wong, & D. Goodley (Eds.). Not Without Us: Perspectives on Disability and Inclusion in Singapore. Ethos Books.

3. Tan, E., & Poon, K. (2022).
Aptitudes, Capabilities, and Interests of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. European Journal of Teaching and Education, 4(4), 32–43. https://doi.org/10.33422/ejte.v4i4.863

4. Tan, E.M.Y. & Poon, K.K. (2023).
Exceptional Abilities and Individuals with Autism. A Historical Account. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 9(1), 17-21. doi: 10.36713/epra2013

5. Tan, E.M.Y. & Poon, K.K. (2023).
Parental Involvement and Influence in the Development of Talents for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Three Modern Case Studies. International Journal of Research and Development, 8(1), 40-44.

6. Tan, E., & Chia, I. (2023).
Supporting and Enabling Improvements in the area of care for adults with disabilities in Singapore. International Journal of Research & Development, 8(1), 106-108.

7. Tan, E., & Chia, I. (2023).
An Overview of the Landscape of Adults with Disabilities in Singapore. A Literature Review. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 9(1). 150-152.

8. Tan, E.M.Y, & Poon, K.K (2023).
A Literature Overview on the Relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Savant Skills. International Journal of Innovation Scientific Research and Review, 5(1), 3870-3874.

9. Tan, E.M.Y., & Poon, K. K.L. (2023).
A Literature Summary on the Typology of Giftedness Among Savants . International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development. 10(4), 19-22.

10. Seah, V. Y.Z. & Tan, E. M.Y. (2023).
Nudging for Improved Academic Performance and Motivation in Higher Learning Institutions. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR), 9(5), 74-77. https://doi.org/10.36713/epra13113

  1. SUSS SEED Grant: (2022). Topic: Principal Investigator. Improving And Facilitating Enhancement In Terms Of Care For Adults With Disabilities In Singapore.
  2. MOE Start –up Grant. (2023). Co-Investigator. Fund: Striving for Success (StriveS) - tracking academic trajectories of MENDAKI participants. $250,000. (Pending)
  3. National Institute of Education (NIE). (2023). Research Grant. Principal Investigator. Strength-Based Approach for Children with Special Needs. $120,000.
  4. Analytics Informed Nudging. ST2. Strategic Trust 2. Study looking at dropout rates of SUSS students and increasing GPA of academically weaker students at SUSS. Co-PI.
  5. MOE start-up Grant (2023). Training teachers and caregivers on toilet training strategies for children with special needs on the moderate to severe spectrum. (Pending). In collaboration with Associate Professor Levan Lim (former Head of Special Education Dept) at NIE.


  1. Institute for Higher Learning. IAL. (Oct 28th 2021). Topic: Child Development Stages and Milestones. Online
  2. CaringSG. (16 Oct 2021). Topic: Supporting students with special needs in higher learning institutions. Online.
  3. Persons with Special Needs (APSN). Parent training. (15th March 2021). Topic: Managing Autism Meltdowns, Tantrums and Aggression’
  4. Social Service Agencies. 8 hours. Topic: Introduction to Special Education (Nov 5th 2021). Online
  5. Koinonia Inclusion Network. (30 July 2022). Topic: Behavioural Management and Meltdown Control.
  6. Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).For faculty Staff and associates (March 25th, 2022). Topic: Helping students with special needs in Higher learning institutions
  7. Ministry of Education. 20 Primary Schools. 2 days workshops. (Feb11th 2022) 1st Topic: SEN in general. Understanding Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). (Feb 22nd 2022). 2nd Topic: Understanding and Managing Students with Disruptive, Defiant and Aggressive Behaviours
  8. Singapore School of Technology. Workshop for associates. (2022) Topic: Supporting students with special needs in higher learning institutions. Taped
  9. Lifelong Learning Institute. Brown Bag session by Headhunt. (8th July, 2022). Topic: Diversity
  10. SkillsFuture Festival (23rd July 2022). Topic: How to manage challenging behaviours of children in an inclusive environment.
  11. Singapore University of Social Sciences (Unilearn) (2023). 18 taped workshops for India on the topic of Special education for mainstream teachers in India. On- going
  12. Singapore University of Social Sciences (Enrichment talk) (26th August, 2023): Changing landscape of Special Education in Singapore
  13. Singapore University of Social Sciences (Conference) (22nd September, 2023). Pixel and Possibilities Conference. Part of a panel discussion. Topic: Benefits of Gaming.

2022 - present
Committee Member, Association for Persons with Special needs (APSN)

2022 - present
Committee member for Programme and Services (SPED), Rainbow Centre
Committee member Adult & Community programmes, Rainbow Centre

2023 - present
Committee member, Curriculum Planning. ACS Autism school

2021 - 2023
Committee member, Programmes and Planning. Mamre Oaks Day Activity Centre

2023 - present
Board Member, Mamre Oaks Day Activity Centre

2023 - present
Examiner, Academic and Examination Board Meeting, Dyslexic Association of Singapore (DAS)
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