FRIDAY, MAY 25, 19:14
3
EARLY TRAINING FOR DISABLED TOTS PLANNED
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DISTRICT-BASED +EARLY EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRES+ WILL BE INTRODUCED IN HONG KONG TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR DISABLED CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OF AGE AND THE IR FAMILIES.
THE NEED FOR THESE CENTRES IS AMONG 24 RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY A WORKING PARTY ON PRE-SCHOOL CARE, AND ACCEPTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER ON THE ADVICE OF THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE, AND ENDORSED BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE MEDICAL AND HEALTH, AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AS PART OF THE +REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PLAN+ AND AS RESOURCES BECOME AVAILABLE.
THE +WORK ING PARTY ON PRE-SCHOOL CARE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF DISABLED CHILDREN+ WAS SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT TO STUDY WHETHER THE CURRENT PROVISION OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING WERE SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DISABLED CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF SIX. IT CONCLUDED THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT TRAINING FOR DISABLED CHILDREN SHOULD START AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, SINCE EARLY
INTERVENTION IN THE REHABILITATION PROCESS IS VITAL.
THIS PROGRAMME IS GEARED TO PROVIDING TRAINING, GUIDANCE, COUNSELLING AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS
IN THE MANAGEMENT, TREATMENT AND TRAINING OF THEIR DISABLED CHILDREN, TO HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CHILDREN'S CONDITIONS SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF THE CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT.
THE WORK ING PARTY HAS ALSO ADVISED ON THE STAFFING STANDARDS FOR THESE CENTRES.
THE WORKING PARTY WAS CHAIRED BY MR MARTIN LEWIS, THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH) WHO HAS NOW BEEN RETITLED COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION, AND COMPRISED MEMBERS OF THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
AT PRESENT, EARLY TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR DISABLED PRE- SCHOOLERS ARE PROVIDED IN SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES, SPECIAL
INTEGRATED PROGRAMMES IN ORDINARY DAY NURSERIES, AND PREPARATORY CLASSES IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS. THESE CHILDREN NORMALLY START TRAINING AT THE AGE OF TWO.
TO SPEED UP THE PROVISION OF PRE-SCHOOL TRAINING, THE WORK ING PARTY RECOMMENDED THAT AN INTEGRATED PROGRAMME SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN KINDERGARTENS AS AN EXTENSION OF THE CONCEPT CURRENTLY PRACTISED IN NURSERIES, AND AN EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT COVERING 10 NON-PROF IT-MAK ING KINDERGARTENS HAS BEEN PLANNED FOR 1985/86.
CONCURRENTLY, THE WORKING PARTY ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT PROVISION FOR PLACES IN SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRE SHOULD BE INCREASED FROM THE PRESENT 420 PLACES BY AN AVERAGE OF 180 PLACES A YEAR AND THE INTEGRATED NURSERY PROGRAMME FROM THE PRESENT 426 PLACES BY 120 PLACES PER ANNUM.
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