14
FRID, SEPTEMBER 23, 1994
"LIFE SKILLS CAN BE REHABILITATION WHICH STARTS IN FACILITIES AT DIFFERENT STAGES.
ACQUIRED
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HOSPITAL, AND CONTINUES IN VARIOUS
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"SOME GO TO SHELTERED WORKSHOPS, SOME GO TO ACTIVITY CENTRES, OTHERS GO TO HALF-WAY HOUSES OR LONG-STAY CARE HOMES, MR STRACHAN SAID.
TURNING TO JOB OPPORTUNITIES, HE SAID A WORKING GROUP HAD BEEN SET UP TO STUDY AND REVIEW THE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES,
"MY PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS ARE THAT EXISTING FACILITIES LIKE SHELTERED WORKSHOPS SHOULD BE MODIFIED.
"THESE FACILITIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB TRAINING AND WORK OF A HIGHER ORDER, IN PARTICULAR ΤΟ TRAIN PEOPLE FOR EMPLOYMENT IN SERVICE INDUSTRIES. THE AIM SHOULD BE TO ENHANCE WORKERS' EARNING CAPACITY," HE ADDED.
BE SOME MECHANISM TO
MR STRACHAN NOTED THAT THERE SHOULD PROVIDE INCENTIVE TO PARENTS AND SHELTERED WORKSHOP STAFF TO MOTIVATE CLIENTS TO MOVE TOWARDS SUPPORTED OR OPEN EMPLOYMENT.
HE HOPED THAT WORKING GROUP MEMBERS WITH EXPERTISE IN MARKETING AS WELL AS BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COULD BRING IN MODERN CONCEPTS AND IDEAS IN MAPPING OUT A STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION FOR DISABLED PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE EX-MENTALLY ILL.
ON PUBLIC EDUCATION, THE SOCIAL WELFARE CHIEF SAID ACCEPTANCE WAS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO ENABLE THE RETURN AND INTEGRATION OF THE EX-MENTALLY ILL IN THE COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER,
"REJECTION WILL REVERSE THE EFFECT OF REHABILITATION. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT SOME MINORITY GROUPS IN OUR COMMUNITY STILL REJECT THE RETURN OF EX-MENTALLY ILL PERSONS, AT LEAST, NOT IN THEIR NEIGHBOURHOOD.
"WHETHER THIS ATTITUDE IS DUE TO IGNORANCE OR VESTED INTERESTS, THIS PREJUDICE MUST BE CHANGED, MR STRACHAN SAID.
FI
HE SAID WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION, THERE WOULD BE LEGAL PROTECTION OF DISABLED PEOPLE FROM DISCRIMINATION.
"TO FUNDAMENTALLY ELIMINATE BIAS AND PREJUDICE, PUBLIC EDUCATION MUST CONTINUE TO BE STEPPED UP," MR STRACHAN ADDED.
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$15