APSN
APSN is a Singapore-based non-profit Social Service Agency, founded in 1976, that provides special education, vocational training, and employment support for individuals with Mild Intellectual Disability (IQ 50-70) across four SPED schools and adult services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersSingapore, Singapore
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What APSN does
APSN (Association for Persons with Special Needs), founded in 1976 and headquartered at 900 New Upper Changi Road, Singapore, is a registered charity and Social Service Agency (SSA) that delivers special education, vocational training, and employment support for individuals with Mild Intellectual Disability (IQ 50-70). It operates through two legal entities — APSN Education Services Ltd. (UEN 202020914M) and APSN Ltd. (UEN 202018265W) — and delivers its mission through a vertically integrated footprint spanning four SPED schools (APSN Chaoyang School for ages 7-12; APSN Katong School for ages 7-16; APSN Tanglin School for ages 13-16; and APSN Delta Senior School for ages 17-21), a Centre for Adults, a Learning Hub, a Student Care Centre, and a network of social enterprises including the Halal- and HACCP-certified APSN Café for All, catering arm, and bakery.
The organisation's core 'technology' is its specialised curriculum and instructional pedagogy (smaller class sizes, visual aids, life-skills scaffolding) developed over five decades, augmented by a vocational track at APSN Delta Senior School that has been an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) with SkillsFuture Singapore since 2008, enabling graduates to earn Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ). APSN's business model is a hybrid of government funding (Community Chest, NCSS, MSF), charitable donations (Giving.sg, GIRO, PayNow, corporate giving), and earned commercial revenue from social-enterprise sales, catering, corporate hampers, event space rental, and team-building experiences. Pricing for direct educational services is not publicly disclosed.
APSN's go-to-market is community-led: families of children with mild ID and mild autism are enrolled via direct admission; adults via referral and employability services; alumni and the broader Singapore public are reached through social enterprise output, donations, and Golden Jubilee (2026) public campaigns. APSN currently holds between 251-500 employees and is expanding in 2026 with a new dedicated school in Ang Mo Kio for students with autism and intellectual disability, signalling its intent to address the rising ASD-ID trend in Singapore. Leadership consists of CEO Stanley Tang.
APSN firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- APSN
- Legal name
- APSN Education Services Ltd.
- Website
- https://apsn.org.sg
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- APSN is a Singapore-based non-profit Social Service Agency, founded in 1976, that provides special education, vocational training, and employment support for individuals with Mild Intellectual Disability (IQ 50-70) across four SPED schools and adult services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
APSN industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Special Education and Vocational Training Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Functional Life Skills & Transition-to-Adulthood Curriculum (ADL, Vocational, Community) (EDAGAMAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC)
Keywords
Where APSN is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Singapore
- HQ country
- Singapore
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices9 records
Markets served
APSN business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding and Grants: Primary funding from Singapore government agencies including Community Chest, National Council of Social Service (NCSS), and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) for operating SPED schools and adult services.
- Donations and Philanthropy: Charitable donations from individuals and corporations via online platforms, GIRO, cheque, and PayNow. Tax-deductible receipts available for donors.
- Commercial Products and Services: Revenue from Café for All café and catering services, bakery products, artisanal goods (chocolates, candles, upcycled fashion), hampers, and event space rentals. Also team building and learning journey experiences.
- Social Enterprise Operations: Vocational training programs that produce commercially saleable products and services, providing both training and revenue generation through sheltered enterprises.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | $15 covers one week of meals for an adult trainee |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
APSN product offering
Product offeringCore offering
APSN is a Singapore-based non-profit social service agency that delivers special education, vocational training, and employment support services for individuals with Mild Intellectual Disability (IQ 50-70). It operates four SPED schools, a Centre for Adults, a Learning Hub, a Student Care Centre, and social enterprises (Café for All, Bakery, Catering) that provide real-world work experience for trainees. Services span the full lifecycle from childhood education (ages 7-12) through youth secondary education (ages 13-16), post-secondary vocational training (ages 17-21), adult employability services, and ongoing alumni support.
Product overview
APSN (Association for Persons with Special Needs) is a Singapore-based Social Service Agency that provides special education, vocational training, and employment support services for individuals with Mild Intellectual Disability (IQ 50-70). The organization operates a multi-tiered service portfolio consisting of four specialized schools (APSN Chaoyang School for ages 7-12, APSN Katong School for ages 7-16, APSN Tanglin School for ages 13-16, and APSN Delta Senior School for ages 17-21), student care services, adult vocational training programs at APSN Centre for Adults (including catering, bakery, and artisanal products), alumni support services, and a learning hub. The social enterprises, including APSN Café for All and the Halal/HACCP-licensed bakery, provide real-world work experience for trainees while generating revenue to support the organization's mission.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- APSN Chaoyang School Special education school catering to children with mild intellectual disability and mild autism between ages 7 and 12, with smaller class sizes and visual aids; graduates typically proceed to APSN Katong School or APSN Tanglin School for secondary education.
- APSN Katong School Special education school for children with mild intellectual disability and mild autism between ages 7 and 16, the only APSN school that runs both the Primary (ages 7-12) and Secondary (ages 13-16) curriculum.
- APSN Tanglin School Special education school for students aged 13 to 16 with mild intellectual disability and concurrent significant limitations in adaptive behaviour across conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills.
- APSN Delta Senior School Post-secondary vocational training school for students aged 17 to 21 with mild intellectual disability, offering Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) upon completion through its Approved Training Organisation (ATO) status with SkillsFuture Singapore since 2008.
- APSN Student Care Centre Before and after school care programmes for students with special needs aged 7 to 18, located within APSN Chaoyang School and available to students from APSN and other Special Education (SPED) schools.
- APSN Centre for Adults Vocational training and employability services for adults with special needs, including training in catering, bakery, artisanal products, hampers, event space rental, and team building activities.
- APSN Café for All Halal-certified social enterprise café providing freshly prepared meals, specialty coffee, and beverages crafted by trainees at the APSN Centre for Adults; serves as both a public F&B outlet and a vocational training environment.
- APSN Catering Services Catering options including in-house buffets and bento sets for meetings and celebrations, prepared by trainees at the APSN Centre for Adults.
- APSN Bakery Handcrafted freshly baked goods including breads, cakes, and cookies, produced in a Halal and HACCP-licensed bakery at the APSN Centre for Adults; supports trainee vocational skills in food production.
- APSN Learning Hub Learning and development services for individuals with special needs, providing ongoing educational support, resources, and training beyond the formal school and Centre for Adults programmes.
- APSN Alumni Services Continuing support services for all students and trainees who have transitioned from APSN schools and the Centre for Adults, designed to enhance quality of life through ongoing skill development and social inclusion.
Companies that use APSN
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
APSN technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
APSN partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- OneRHTminorMOU partnership mentioned on APSN website banner. Details of the partnership collaboration are not specified.
- CG2026minorCollaboration mentioned on APSN website banner for 2026 initiatives.
- Wildness AsiaminorPartnership for organic chocolate products made by trainees at APSN Centre for Adults. Wildness Asia collaborates with APSN to create sustainable, purpose-driven products that support vocational training.
- CloopminorCollaboration for upcycled fashion products using pre-loved clothes and accessories. Supports trainees in learning sustainable fashion skills.
- OMNOminorPartnership for hand-poured candles and natural cleansers crafted by trainees. Provides vocational training opportunities in artisanal product creation.
- SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)coreGovernment agency that designates APSN Delta Senior School as an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) since 2008. Students receive Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) upon completing vocational training.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
APSN competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AWWA (Asian Women's Welfare Association): Singapore social service agency operating disability services including AWWA School for students with multiple disabilities, and community-based support programs. Comparable to APSN on disability school operations and adult services.
- MINDS (Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore): Singapore-based social service agency providing special education, vocational training, and employment support for individuals with intellectual disability. Most direct comparable to APSN given overlapping mission, beneficiary profile, and SPED school network.
- TOUCH Community Services: Singapore social service agency operating TOUCH Special Needs and other disability-focused programs. Comparable to APSN in target population and lifecycle service model.
- Eden School: Singapore SPED school run by APSN-adjacent disability services, serving students with mild intellectual disability and autism. Direct competitor in Singapore's SPED capacity landscape.
- Rainbow Centre: Singapore-based social service agency running SPED schools (Margaret Drive School, Yishun Park School) and early intervention programs for children with special needs. Directly competes with APSN in the SPED school segment.
- Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities: Large Singapore social service agency offering disability, elderly, and community services including Thye Hua Kwan School. Comparable to APSN on the social-service-agency operating model and SPED delivery.
- Metta Welfare Association: Singapore non-profit providing special education (Metta School), vocational training, and disability care services. Overlaps directly with APSN on SPED schooling and sheltered employment models.
- SPD (Singapore Disability Sport & Welfare Council): Singapore social service agency supporting people with disabilities through therapy, vocational training, and employment services. Comparable to APSN in operating social-service programs targeting similar disabilities in Singapore.
Broad incumbents
- Yew Chung Education Foundation: Hong Kong-headquartered non-profit education provider offering K-12 programs including inclusive education for students with special needs across Greater China. Comparable to APSN as an established non-profit education operator with special-needs services, though broader in scope and geographically distinct.
Emerging players
- Down Syndrome Association (Singapore): Singapore non-profit providing education, therapy, and adult services specifically for individuals with Down syndrome. Comparable to APSN on adult employability and lifelong support, but narrower clinical focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
APSN social profiles
Digital presenceAPSN compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
APSN financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
APSN leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
APSN subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries8 records
APSN funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
APSN M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about APSN
What does APSN do?
APSN is a Singapore-based non-profit social service agency that delivers special education, vocational training, and employment support services for individuals with Mild Intellectual Disability (IQ 50-70). It operates four SPED schools, a Centre for Adults, a Learning Hub, a Student Care Centre, and social enterprises (Café for All, Bakery, Catering) that provide real-world work experience for trainees. Services span the full lifecycle from childhood education (ages 7-12) through youth secondary education (ages 13-16), post-secondary vocational training (ages 17-21), adult employability services, and ongoing alumni support.
Is APSN a public or private company?
APSN is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was APSN founded?
APSN was founded in 1976. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is APSN based?
APSN is headquartered in Singapore, Singapore, in the Asia region.
How does APSN make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Funding and Grants are the primary driver. The others are donations and Philanthropy, commercial Products and Services and social Enterprise Operations.
Who are APSN's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AWWA (Asian Women's Welfare Association), MINDS (Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore), TOUCH Community Services, Eden School, Rainbow Centre, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities, Metta Welfare Association and SPD (Singapore Disability Sport & Welfare Council). Yew Chung Education Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. Down Syndrome Association (Singapore) is listed as an emerging player.
Does APSN have an API?
No public API is recorded for APSN.
What industry is APSN in?
APSN's product category is Special Education and Vocational Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAMAJ, Functional Life Skills & Transition-to-Adulthood Curriculum (ADL, Vocational, Community), with a secondary code of EDAAAFAN, Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills). Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 8200.