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MY
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1983
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE PLACEMENT SERVICE TO THE EX-MENTALLY ILL AND THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
MR LEUNG SAID THAT SHELTERED WORK WAS PROVIDED FOR THOSE SERIOUSLY DISABLED PEOPLE WHO WERE UNABLE TO COPE WITH THE PRESSURES OF A NORMAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT OR OF INDEPENDENT LIVING.
HE ALSO SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD JUST COMPLETED A REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS. THIS REVIEW HAS UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF WORK OPPORTUNITIES TO CATER FOR THE VARYING ABILITIES AND ASPIRATIONS OF DISABLED WORKERS, HE SAID.
APART FROM PROVIDING DOMESTIC UNITS FOR THE DISABLED EITHER THROUGH THE COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING SCHEME OR THROUGH THE NORMAL PUBLIC ALLOCATION SYSTEM, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ALSO FUNDED COMPREHENSIVE HOME AND ESTATE MODIFICATIONS. TO MAXIMISE MOBILITY AND ACCESS WITHIN AND AROUND THE HOMES OF THE DISABLED PERSONS, HE SAID.
MR LEUNG SAID RESIDENTIAL CARE WAS NEEDED FOR THOSE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE WHO:
* LIVE IN REMOTE AREAS AND HAVE TO ATTEND SCHOOLS:
* ARE CHILDREN WHO CANNOT BE CARED FOR AT HOME FOR
*
VARIOUS SOCIAL REASONS;
HAVE NO FAMILIES OR RELATIVES TO CARE FOR THEM AND
WHO CANNOT LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.
HE SAID ALSO THAT RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE DISABLED IN TWO BROAD CATEGORIES:
*
*
BY ESTABLISHING SPECIAL FACILITIES FOR DISABLED
PEOPLE AND CONDUCTING PROGRAMMES TAILORED TO THE INDIVIDUAL S' PARTICULAR ABILITIES AND POSSIBLE POTENTIAL; AND
BY MAKING GENERAL FACILITIES ACCESSIBLE TO DISABLED
PEOPLE.
+THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND ITS SUBVENTED AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING AND ENCOURAGING BOTH FORMS OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES,+ HE SAID.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE TEXT OF MR LEUNG'S SPEECH MAY BE COLLECTED FROM THE GIS PRESS ROOM.
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