XN000022-1976-09-17 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1976

DEMONSTRATION ON HOW TO HELP DISABLED TRAVEL ON BUSES ******

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING GAVE A DEMONSTRATION TO SOME 20 SUPERVISORS AND REGULATORS OF THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY ON HOW TO HELP THE DISABLED TO BOARD AND TO GET OFF BUSES.

THIS WAS PART OF A SERIES OF LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO SHOW STAFF OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMPANIES HOW THEY COULD HELP THE DISABLED,

THE MOVE WAS TO ENABLE THE DISABLED PEOPLE TO INTEGRATE MORE EASILY INTO THE SOCIETY.

DURING THE WEEK, OVER 100 SUPERVISORS AND REGULATORS OF THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS, CHINA MOTOR BUS AND HONG KONG TRAMWAYS COMPANIES ATTENDED TALKS GIVEN BY OFFICERS OF THE REHABILITATION DIVISION.

SUBJECTS OF THE TALKS INCLUDED THE CLASS IF ICATION OF DISABILITIES, THE MAIN DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY DISABLED PEOPLE IN USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT, AND HOW STAFF OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMPANIES COULD HELP THESE PEOPLE TO MAKE THE MAXIMUM USE OF THE FACILITIES.

COMMENTING ON THE NEED FOR THESE LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS, MR. KO KI-CHUNG, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY DISABLED WELFARE UNIT, SAID :+APART FROM THE HUMANITARIAN REASONS, THE EXTENSIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES IS TO GIVE DISABLED PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY OF LIVING AS FULL AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES AS THE IR DISABILITIES ALLOW. FOR THIS, THEY NEED EDUCATION, BOTH ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL, AND THEN EMPLOYMENT.+

+BUT, HE STRESSED, THE REHABILITATION EFFORTS CAN BE WASTED IF A DISABLED PERSON FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO GET TO HIS PLACE OF EDUCATION OR EMPLOYMENT.+

+FURTHERMORE, IF A DISABLED PERSON CAN PROVIDE FOR HIMSELF HE GAINS ENORMOUSLY IN SELF-RESPECT AND BECOMES LESS OF A SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL BURDEN ON BOTH HIS FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY, + HE ADDED.

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