XN000022-1979-07-11 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1979

THE HK RED CROSS PRAISED FOR PROVIDING SPECIAL EDUCATION

FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN

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THE EDUCATION OF PHYSICALLY DISABLED CHILDREN REQUIRES CLOSE CO-OPERATION AMONG THE STAFF IN A SCHOOL AND CONSTANT CONTACT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND THE CHILDREN'S FAMILIES, LADY CATER, WIFE OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE FIRST COMBINED SPEECH DAY OF ALL SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND HOSPITAL SCHOOLS OF THE HONG KONG RED CROSS, LADY CATER SAID PHYSICALLY DISABLED CHILDREN GENERALLY HAD A VERY WIDE RANGE OF INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES THEREFORE MUST BE PLANNED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE TO MEET EACH CHILD'S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

+THIS MEANS THAT A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH IS REQUIRED SO THAT THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE PUPILS INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IS MAINTAINED, LADY CATER SAID.

+TEACHERS, THERAPISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF STAFF MUST WORK AS A TEAM FOR THE GOOD OF THE PUPILS.

+ IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THE PARENTS THEMSELVES HAVE AN ABSOLUTELY VITAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THE EDUCATION OF THEIR DISABLED CHILDREN, SHE ADDED.

LADY CATER ALSO NOTED THAT THE HONG KONG RED CROSS WAS PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY WITH MANY IMPORTANT AND INVALUABLE SERVICES AND WAS WIDELY RECOGNISED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

SHE SAID THE HONG KONG RED CROSS NOW OPERATES FOUR SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND 12 HOSPITAL SCHOOLS.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN MOST HELPFUL TO THE RED CROSS IN THE FIELD OF REHABILITATION SERVICES.

+SINCE APRIL THIS YEAR, THE CODES OF AID FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION HAVE PROVIDED EACH OF YOUR SPECIAL SCHOOLS WITH THE NECESSARY SUBVENTION SUPPORT TO ENABLE YOU TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY RANGE OF PROFESSIONALS, SHE SAID.

FINALLY, LADY CATER PRAISED THE RED CROSS SCHOOLS FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN INTER-SCHOOLS PROGRAMMES, SUCH AS THE SCHOOLS MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVALS AND INTER-SCHOOLS SPORTS BECAUSE IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR DISABLED CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.