THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1992
15
CALL TO HELP DISABLED
THE DIRECTOR OF
(THURSDAY) CALLED ON THE
SOCIAL WELFARE, MR M.D. CARTLAND, TODAY COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY YOUNG PEOPLE, TO
HELP THE DISABLED INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY.
MR CARTLAND MADE THE APPEAL WHILE ADDRESSING THE OPENING OF
FOR THE THE SOCIETY OF HOMES
HANDICAPPED CHO VIU ADULT TRAINING CENTRE IN KWAI CHUNG.
"MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS NEED SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT IF THEY ARE TO DERIVE THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FROM THE REHABILITATION SERVICES, HE SAID.
"
THERE WAS A REAL ROLE THEREFORE FOR VOLUNTEERS AT EVERY STAGE OF THE REHABILITATION PROCESS,
OF PARTICULARLY AT THE POINT
FOR THOSE
WERE TRANSITION TO LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY
WHO
ABLE TO ASPIRE TO INDEPENDENT LIVING AND OPENING EMPLOYMENT, HE ADDED.
THROUGH PARTICIPATION
INDEPENDENCE FOR THE MENTALLY
IN
HANDICAPPED HAD TO BE LEARNT COMMUNITY LIVING, HE SAID, NOTING THAT VOLUNTEERS COULD HELP TAKE THEM OUT FROM THEIR HOMES, SCHOOLS AND CENTRES TO EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY LIFE.
IN
GAIN "WITH MORE EXPOSURE TO REAL LIFE SITUATIONS, THEY CAN
THE COMMUNITY CAN THEN BOTH STRENGTH AND CONFIDENCE.
LEARN OF THE ABILITY TO LIVE EXTENT OF THEIR SKILLS AND HAVE MORE FAITH IN THEIR AN INDEPENDENT LIFE, HE SAID.
"
BETWEEN THE VITAL PART IN
MR CARTLAND SAID THE JOINT EFFORT AND PARTNERSHIP GOVERNMENT AND THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES PLAYED A THE DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG.
"THEIR EFFORTS ALONE HOWEVER WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT WITHOUT THE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OFPARENTS, FRIENDS, VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. HE STRESSED.
HAS
"ONLY WHEN THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ARE ACCEPTED AND RESPECTED AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY COULD WE SAY REHABILITATION ACHIEVED ITS GOAL," HE ADDED.
THE OPENING OF THE CHO YIU ADULT TRAINING CENTRE REPRESENTED ANOTHER STEP ON THE LONG ROAD TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE OF PUTTING IN PLACE ALL THE SERVICES NECESSARY FOR THE REHABILITATION OF LOW MODERATE AND SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE, MR CARTLAND SAID.
"THERE IS ALSO ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGE IN THIS CASE IN THAT THE SOCIETY WILL NOW BE ABLE TO VACATE PREMISES IN THE EXISTING LAT
FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF 30 YIU ADULT TRAINING CENTRE
VERY MUCH DISABLED NEEDED CARE-AND-ATTENTION PLACES FOR SEVERELY
PERSONS,"
HE
SAID.
/MR CARTLAND