WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1981
16
STEADY PROGRESS IN WORK FOR DISABLED
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STEADY PROGRESS IS BEING MADE TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF REHABILITATING THE DISABLED OUTLINED IN THE 1977 WHITE PAPER, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE SAID.
THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE DISABLED PERSON, COUPLED WITH DR HARRY FANG'S ELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF REHABILITATION INTERNATIONAL, HAS ALSO HELPED OUR COMMUNITY TO FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE DISABLED, HE SAID.
+THE ACTIVITIES OF THE YEAR ATTEMPT TO AWAKEN US TO THE PROBLEMS AND NEEDS OF THE DISABLED, AND TO DEMONSTRATE HOW WE CAN ASSIST THE IR INTEGRATION.
+THE LATTER IS OUR DECLARED POLICY AND THE THEME FOR THE YEAR AND THERE ARE SIGNS OF SUCCESS.+
SIR MURRAY SAID IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM AND THE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN STARTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE DISABLED PERSON NEEDS TO CONTINUE.
ON THE PROGRESS MADE, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT THE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING PROGRAMME COVERING CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO THE AGE OF FIVE WHICH FIRST STARTED IN PART-TIME CENTRES IN 1978 IS NOW AVAILABLE IN 34 FAMILY HEALTH CENTRES PERFORMING 100 000 EXAMINATIONS A YEAR.
THE SCHOOL SCREENING SERVICE CARRIES ON THE WORK OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING PROGRAMME, AND AUDIOMETRIC SCREENING IS BEING EXTENDED TO ALL PRIMARY 1 PUPILS THIS YEAR. VISION SCREEN ING WILL BE EXTENDED TO ALL PRIMARY 1 PUPILS IN 1982 AND SPEECH SCREENING TO ALL PRIMARY 3 PUPILS IN 1984/85.
IN SPECIAL EDUCATION THE CURRENT PROVISION OF 28 860 PLACES MORE THAN DOUBLES THE 1977 FIGURE OF 12 160.
BUT LARGE SHORTFALLS REMAIN, SIR MURRAY SAID, PARTICULARLY IN PROVISION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AND SLOW LEARNERS.
+THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY A LACK OF TEACHERS AND LACK OF ENTHUSIASM AMONG SCH OL SPONSORS FOR EXPANDING SPECIAL CLASSES FOR SLOW LEARNERS IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS.
NEVERTHELESS, HE SAID, OVER 3 000 ADDITIONAL SPECIAL PLACES ARE BEING PROVIDED IN 1981/82.
FOR THE MENTALLY ILL, KWAI CHUNG HOSPITAL WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 1 340 BEDS BRINGING THE TOTAL PROVISION TO NEARLY 3.800.
A FURTHE