Singaporean special education advocate (1937–2023)
Leaena Tambyah
PBM BBM
Born
Leaena Chelliah
(1937-06-28)28 June 1937
Penang, Straits Settlements
Died
8 September 2023(2023-09-08) (aged 86)
Singapore
Nationality
Singaporean
Education
B.S.
Alma mater
University of Birmingham
Occupation
Social worker
Known for
Disability rights and special education advocacy
Spouse
John Anantharajah Tambyah
(m. 1964; died 2011)
Children
Paul Anantharajah Tambyah (son) Malini Tambyah Rajendran (daughter)
Parents
Devasahayam David Chelliah (father)
Rosalind Chelliah (mother)
Leaena TambyahPBM BBM, (born Leaena Chelliah; 28 June 1937 – 8 September 2023), was a Singaporean special education advocate who founded the country's first school for children with multiple disabilities.[1] The school was originally called the Handicapped Children's Playgroup, but went on to become the AWWA School. Tambyah also founded a programme called TEACH ME (Therapy and Educational Assistance for Children in Mainstream Education) to try to bring disabled children into mainstream schools, and to provide mobile therapy services to children whose families could not afford to bring them to a hospital.
^Yeoh, Lai Lin (12 November 2012). "Helping children with nowhere to go Leaena Tambyah (born 1937 - )". Singapore Memory. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
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1925 and they had six children; David, Iris, Jazmyn, Jonathan, Noelle and Leaena. His wife Rosalind died on 26 November 1971. Chelliah died at the Toa Payoh...
schools for children with disabilities was opened on March 12, 1979, by LeaenaTambyah. The school was called AWWA's Handicapped Children's Playgroup and operated...
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