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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1994
POINTING OUT THAT SOCIAL ATTITUDE HAD CHANGED TODAY, MR STRACHAN SAID VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS WERE NO LONGER ENCOURAGED TO SEEK SHELTER IN SEGREGATED SETTINGS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR VISUAL "PROBLEM.
"INSTEAD, THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO LIVE AS INDEPENDENTLY AS THEIR ABILITIES PERMIT, INDEPENDENT LIVING MEANS ENJOYING FAMILY LIFE AND . RESTORING DIGNITY.
"IN TERMS OF MOBILITY, TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES ARE MADE MORE USER-FRIENDLY AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO DISABLED PERSONS, INCLUDING VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS.
"IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF LIFE, INDEPENDENT LIVING OPENS UP AVENUES FOR DISABLED PERSONS TO THE MANY FACETS OF COMMUNITY LIFE, WITH A FREEDOM OF CHOICE TO ENGAGE IN PERSONAL PURSUITS OR PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC, RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AS THEIR ORDINARY COUNTERPARTS, MR STRACHAN SAID.
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HE NOTED THAT INDEPENDENT LIVING WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, THE PROVISION OF HOSTEL SERVICE, OR THE SEMI-INDEPENDENT HOSTEL WHICH OFFERED SMALL GROUP LIVING WITH SUPPORT FROM SOCIAL WORK STAFF.
"OUR POPULATION IS AGING. THE NEEDS OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS WHO HAVE GROWN OLD ARE OBVIOUS.
"OLD PEOPLE'S HOMES, PARTICULARLY HOMES FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED ELDERLY PEOPLE, ARE REQUIRED, MR STRACHAN SAID.
ON A SUGGESTION TO GROUP RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR AGED VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF ELDERLY SERVICES IN GENERAL, HE SAID APART FROM THE ADVANTAGES OF STREAMLINING MANAGEMENT AND STANDARDS AND MAXIMISING EFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES, THE DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN AGED VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS AND OTHER ELDERLY PEOPLE WOULD BE REMOVED.
"AGED VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS WOULD BE TREATED IN THE SAME MANNER AS ORDINARY PEOPLE. THIS WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE REALISATION OF THE GOAL OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AS LAID DOWN IN THE GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION," MR STRACHAN SAID.
THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB HOME FOR THE AGED BLIND, WHEN COMPLETED, WILL PROVIDE 252 PLACES FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED ELDERLY PEOPLE IN NEED OF RESIDENTIAL CARE.
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