To
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1987
REHABILITATION SERVICES TO BE FURTHER DEVELOPED * * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT is COMMITTED REHABILITATION SERVICES DESPITE THE
ΤΟ THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF MANY ACHIEVEMENTS MADE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION, MR FRANCIS
HO, SAID THIS (MONDAY) MORNING.
SPEAKING AT THE FIRST EAST-ASIA AND PACIFIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE WORLD BLIND UNION, MR HO SAID THAT AS FAR AS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ASSESSMENT SERVICES WERE CONCERNED, SIX CHILD ASSESSMENT CENTRES WOULD BE COMPLETED FROM NOW UP TO 1991-92.
"IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE PROVISION OF SCHOOL PLACES FOR THE DISABLED IS GENERALLY ADEQUATE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED BUT THE SHORTFALL IN SUCH AN AREA IS EXPECTED TO BE FULLY MET BY 1991-92 THROUGH THE PROVISION OF 1,320 PLACES FOR VARIOUS GRADES OF MENTAL HANDICAP," HE SAID.
MR HO SAID THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION WOULD BE FURTHER IMPROVED WITH BETTER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIALIST SERVICES TO IMPROVE TEACHING AND A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS THE THREE-YEAR LOCAL COURSE IN SPERCH THERAPY TO START AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG IN 1988.
"ON PRE-SCHOOL SERVICES, HE SAID, "THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING PARTY ON PRE-SCHOOL CARE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF DISABLED CHILDREN ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED AND 1,490 PLACES IN EARLY EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRES, SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES AND KINDERGARTENS WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS UP TO 1991-92."
SIMILARLY, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS PLANS TO INCREASE SOCIAL REHABILITATION PROVISIONS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS: 550 HALF-WAY HOUSE PLACES, 750 RESIDENTIAL PLACES FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, 2,015 SHELtered workSHOP PLACES AND 940 WORK ACTIVITY CENTRE PLACES.
ANOTHER 700 PLACES IN SKILL CENTRES WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT.
MR HO SAID FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DISABLED PEOPLE CONSTANT ATTENDANCE WOULD BE DOUBLED OVER THE NEXT THREE COVER ALL AGE BRACKETS.
REQUIRING YEARS TO
"A QUEEN ELIZABETH FOUNDATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED WILL BE SET UP SOON BY STATUTE TO FURTHER THE WELFARE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
"TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR, A REHABILITATION ENGINEERING CENTRE WILL START OPERATION IN THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC TO PROVIDE APPLIED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ON TECHNICAL AIDS FOR THE DISABLED AND ON THE APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY IN REHABILITATION, HE SAID.
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