XN000022-1978-07-13 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1978

PROPOSALS TO EXPAND CODES OF AID FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION BEING EXAMINED

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THE GOVERNMENT IS EXAMINING PROPOSALS TO EXPAND THE CODES OF AID FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION TO ALLOW SPECIAL SCHOOLS TO HAVE A WIDER RANGE OF MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CARE WITHIN SCHOOLS AND BETTER RESOURCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

MR. IAN STRACHAN, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, SAID THIS TODAY (THURSDAY) AT THE SPEECH DAY OF THE HONG KONG SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.

HE SAID: +I ANTICIPATE THAT THIS PROPOSAL WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE EDUCATION SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE REHABILITATION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS TIME AND, IF THESE PROPOSALS ARE SUBSEQUENTLY APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THEY WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ON APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR.+

MR. STRACHAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT DEAF CHILDREN MUST BE GIVEN AN EDUCATION WHICH IS AT LEAST AS GOOD AS NON-HEARING

IMPAIRED CHILDREN HAVE SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO FULLY UTILISE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM ONCE THEY LEAVE SCHOOL.

HE. SAID SOME DEAF CHILDREN WOULD, OF COURSE, GO STRAIGHT INTO EMPLOYMENT AFTER NINE YEARS OF EDUCATION, WHILST OTHERS WOULD CONTINUE EDUCATION EITHER IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING OR IN FORMS IV AND V.

+THE GOVERNMENT MUST ENSURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE THERE TO ENABLE DISABLED CHILDREN TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE AT THE END OF FORM 3 COMPATIBLE WITH THEIR ABILITIES,+ MR. STRACHAN SAID.

HE SAID THERE WERE AT PRESENT NINE EAR, NOSE AND THROAT CLINICS AND THERE WERE PROPOSALS TO INCREASE THIS NUMBER TO 12 BY 1984.

HE ALSO DISCLOSED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IS IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SERVICE IN CLINICS AND THE NUMBER OF CONSULTATIONS AND SESSIONS IS BEING INCREASED SO THAT DOCTORS CAN SPEND MORE TIME IN EXAMINING INDIVIDUAL CASES.

ONE SPECIFIC PROPOSAL TO IMPROVE SERVICES MADE THIS YEAR HAD BEEN TO ASK THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO CONSIDER PROVIDING SPECIAL CLINICS FOR CHILDREN AT EAR, NOSE AND THROAT CLINICS.

+ THE ADDITION OF THESE SESSIONS WOULD ALLOW TEACHERS WHO USUALLY ACCOMPANY CHILDREN FOR TREATMENT WITH PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO UTILISE THEIR TIME BETTER- SECONDLY, IT WOULD BE EASIER TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN DURING SCHOOL HOURS TO CLINICS AND, THIRDLY, SPECIALISTS WITH A FLAIR FOR TREATING CHILDREN COULD BE ALLOTTED TO SUCH SESSIONS.+

MR. STRACHAN SAID THE REQUIREMENT FOR AUDIOLOGISTS TO PROVIDE ASSESSMENT AND TRAINING OF HEARING IMPAIRED CHILDREN WOULD BE MET IN FULL THIS YEAR.

/IN ADDITION,