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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1974
NEW SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES CENTRE IN KOWLOON
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CONVERSION WORK HAS BEGUN ON THE RECENTLY VACATED PERTH STREET GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL WHICH WILL BE TURNED INTO A NEW SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE CENTRE TO CATER FOR THE LARGE POPULATION IN KOWLOON.
THE NEW KOWLOON SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES CENTRE, INCLUDED IN THE SECOND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IN HONG KONG, IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1977.
ALTHOUGH THE CENTRE WILL NOT BE IN FULL OPERATION TILL 1977, IT WILL START OFFERING SERVICE ON A SMALL SCALE IN JANUARY 1975 WHEN THE FIRST PHASE OF ALTERATIONS TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING IS COMPLETED.
THE CENTRE WILL OFFER A FULL RANGE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE ASSESSMENT, REMEDIAL AND PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING AND/OR BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS.
THE UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND RECENTLY DONATED A SUM OF ABOUT HK$200,000 TO THE SPEECH THERAPY UNIT OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR SETTING UP A PROFESSIONAL LIBRARY, AND PURCHASING EQUIPMENT AND AIDS FOR THE NEW CENTRE.
AT PRESENT THERE IS ONLY ONE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES CENTRE IN HONG KONG. IT IS IN HOSPITAL ROAD ON HONG KONG ISLAND. SINCE ITS INITIAL ESTABLISHMENT IN 1966 THE CENTRE HAS UNDERGONE SERVERAL MAJOR EXPANSION STAGES. IT IS NOW ONE OF THE MOST WELL-EQUIPPED IN ASIA, AND MEASURES UP TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD.
CHILDREN ARE MAINLY REFERRED TO THE CENTRE BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, AND PARENTS.
+PARENTS AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE DEALINGS WITH CHILDREN ARE WELCOME TO REFER CHILDREN SUSPECTED OF HAVING LEARNING AND/OR BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS TO THE CENTRE, THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENTRE SAID.
AT THE CENTRE, ASSESSMENT IS CARRIED OUT BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO DETERMINE THE NATURE AND DEGREE OF THE CHILDREN'S HANDICAP SO THAT SUITABLE REMEDIAL AND/OR PLACEMENT SERVICES CAN BE ARRANGED FOR THEM.
REMEDIAL SERVICES INCLUDE AUDITORY TRAINING AND SPEECH TEACHING FOR DEAF AND PARTIALLY HEARING CHILDREN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP SPEECH THERAPY FOR ALL TYPES OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE IMPAIRED CHILDREN AND PLAY THERAPY AND COUNSELLING FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING AND/OR BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS.
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/THE SPOKESMAN
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