XN000022-1979-03-21 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1979

THIS SERVICE IS NOW DIVIDED AMONG THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ACCORDING TO THE I.Q. LEVEL OF THE CHILDREN INVOLVED.

ON APRIL 1 THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE OVER FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SUBVENTION AND SUPERVISION OF 12 CHILDREN'S TRAINING CENTRES WITH 720 PLACES FOR MODERATELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.

+THE TAKE-OVER OF RESPONSIBILITY BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IMPLIES THAT THE CHILDREN'S TRAINING CENTRES WHICH AT PRESENT RECEIVE DISCRETIONARY GRANTS FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL BE RECEIVING FULL GRANTS TO COVER ALL EXPENDITURE FOR APPROVED ACTIVITIES AND POSTS ON A DEFICIENCY BASIS UNDER THE CODE OF AID ADMINISTERED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

SERVING STAFF OF THESE CENTRES WILL RECEIVE TEACHER TRAINING AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TRAINING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.

CLASS SIZES FOR MODERATELY AND SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN WILL ALSO BE REDUCED TO PERMIT GREATER CARE FOR THESE CHILDREN.

WITH REGARD TO THE EXPANSION OF MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CARE IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID SOCIAL WORKERS AND PARA-MEDICAL STAFF WILL BE PROVIDED IN THESE SCHOOLS.

SOCIAL WORKERS WILL HELP HANDICAPPED CHILDREN IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS TO OVERCOME THE IR SENSE OF INFERIORITY AND INADEQUACY, AND TO SOLVE THE IR EMOTIONAL AND ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS.

PARENTS WILL ALSO NEED THE COUNSELLING OF THESE SOCIAL WORKERS IN LOOKING AFTER THE IR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS WILL BE EMPLOYED TO ASSIST PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN TO GAIN MOBILITY, TO MAINTAIN AND INCREASE MUSCLE STRENGTH, AND TO ADVISE THEM IN THE USE OF WHEELCHAIRS AND WALKING AIDS.

THESE CHILDREN WILL ALSO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS IN ASSESSING AND DEVELOPING THEIR PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL SKILLS AND APTITUDES.

SPEECH THERAPISTS WILL BE PROVIDED IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR THE DEAF, FOR THE MULTI-HANDICAPPED WITH SPEECH PROBLEMS AND FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.

A FULL-TIME REGISTERED NURSE IS PROPOSED FOR EVERY SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR THE PHYSICALLY HAND ICAPPED AND FOR THE SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, BECAUSE THESE CHILDREN REQUIRE FREQUENT NURSING CARE.

+THE PROVISION OF THESE STAFF WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF REHABILITATIVE SERVICES FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IN ADDITION, RESOURCE TEACHERS WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND BLIND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT RECEIVING FULL-TIME EDUCATION IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS.

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