As rock climbing gains popularity in Singapore, some hope to make the sport more inclusive

SINGAPORE: In all his decades as a climbing trainer, one minute stands out vividly for Ng Yan Zhi&nbsp, – the time a scholar reached the top of a wall after nine months of work.

It was a great success for the 10-year-old child with autism, who initially was reluctant to put on his climbing shoes, harness, or even approach the climbing walls.

Mr Ng, 24, knew he had to view this separately to obtain the boy’s respect.

” We started by making simple adjustments, like making him feel the ( climbing holds ) or go near the wall by putting his favorite toys there. If he doesn’t want to, we play game”, said the professor at climbing gyms Verticlimb.

Although it took times, the boy finally started getting in the way of the coaches and starting to get up earlier for school. He even gained more confidence on the wall, making it so much easier for him to concentrate and follow directions without being told where to go next.

Gradually, the boy advanced higher up the wall, one hang at a time, until he suddenly reached the top.

” After that, he climbed up to the top a few more days. It’s like he broke through a psychological barrier”, Mr Ng recalled. When I saw his mother cry, that was when I saw him. It has been a lengthy method”.

He began to consider how the game may be made more accessible to those with special needs after that positive experience.

Recently, Verticlimb only ran lessons on vacation and in group settings. Children with autism may find the noise and crowd to get frustrating.

While personal lessons can be conducted upon demand, such as for the 10-year-old son, the coaches had little to no knowledge teaching special needs kids.

All of this paved the way for the school’s Special Heights initiative, launched in first 2024.

It was created in conversation with special needs teachers and occupational therapist and offers 1-on-1 classes for kids with special requirements on weekdays.