When your brain is wired differently

Lee Li Ying and Joyce Teo speak to individuals with the most common neurodivergent disorders — autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — to see how they navigate society not built with them in mind.

- Lee Li Ying and Joyce Teo

The aspiring Chinese teacher Ngee Ann Polytechnic graduate Ray Er Jia Rui dreams of one day becoming a Chinese teacher.

He fell in love with the language in secondary school, after being influenced by his grandfather, who practises Chinese calligraphy.

"I watched many YouTube videos that shared how intricate and beautiful Chinese characters are. That gave me the motivation to pursue a career in mother tongue education," he said.

But if he achieves his ambition, the 19-year-old will not be like most teachers.

He was diagnosed with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder when he was three years old. Doctors noticed that he was not speaking in short sentences like other children his age, and he would not hold eye contact.

The boy could have faced significant challenges in communicating and interacting in social settings, experienced more distress from sensory input, and exhibited more pronounced repetitive behaviours.

But with timely intervention and support from his parents, teachers and peers, he acquired strategies that let him navigate social situations and manage his sensory sensitivities.

"The symptoms are not as severe, and I have managed to live life like 80 per cent to 90 per cent of a regular person," he noted.

Earlier in 2025, he obtained a diploma in Chinese studies from Ngee Ann Polytechnic and secured a teacher training sponsorship with the Ministry of Education (MOE).

He enlisted for national service in mid-August and plans to continue his studies at the National Institute of Education afterwards.

Still, it has not been smooth sailing all the way.

His father Er Chiang Kai said they were shocked by the boy's diagnosis, as there had been no history of autism in the family.