XN000022-1981-05-10 — Page 5

SUNDAY, MAY 10, 1981

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MRS MA POINTED OUT THAT THE CENTRE'S EFFORTS ARE DIRECTED TOWARDS ACCLIMATISING THE TRAINEES TO A WORK MILIEU, MOTIVATING THEM TO MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM THE ROLE OF A DEPENDENT HANDICAPPED PERSON TO THAT OF A PRODUCTIVE WORKER, AND HELPING THEM TOWARDS PERSONAL OR SOCIAL GROWTH WHICH WILL ENABLE THEM TO ADAPT SUCCESSFULLY TO THE LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE FIVE VOCATIONAL TRAINING CLASSES IN THE CENTRE, NAMELY CARPENTRY, GARDENING, INDUSTRIAL MACHINE SEWING, TA ILORING AND DOMESTIC HELP.

TRAINEES ATTENDING THESE CLASSES ARE FROM 16 TO 40 YEARS OLD, AND WILL NORMALLY COMPLETE THE TRAINING IN TWO YEARS, SHE SAID.

SHE ADDED THAT THE JOB PLACEMENT UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT UNIT OF LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL ASSIST TRAINEES IN SEEKING OPEN EMPLOYMENT WHEN THEY COMPLETE THE IR TRAINING.

MRS MA SA ID REMUNERATIVE OCCUPATIONS ARE OFFERED IN THE CENTRE TO THE SEVERELY DISABLED WHO CAN NEITHER FIT INTO THE COMPETITIVE OPEN EMPLOYMENT, NOR TAKE UP VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

+THESE INCLUDE JOBS OF THREAD CUTTING, PLASTIC TOY AND FLOWER ASSEMBLING AND PACKING AND SEALING, OFFERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TRAINEES' INTEREST AND RESIDUAL CAPABILITY.

ACCORDING TO MRS MA, TRAINEES WITH REGULAR ATTENDANCE IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING CLASSES AND SHELTERED WORKSHOP ARË GIVEN INCENTIVE PAYMENTS IN ADDITION TO THE IR WAGES.

MENTALLY RETARDED YOUTHS WITH I.Q. BELOW 40, WHO ARE UNABLE TO TAKE UP VOCATIONAL TRAINING BUT ARE IN NEED OF INTENSIVE SOCIAL TRAINING ARE TRAINED IN THE WORK ACTIVITIES GROUP AND ARE UNDER CLOSE SUPERVISION IN THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES.

+TRAINING PROGRAMMES OF THE GROUP EMPHASISE SPECIALLY ON SKILLS OF SELF CARE, COMMUNICATION, SENSORY AND MOTOR, SOCIAL COMPETENCE AND WORK HABIT FORMATION, SHE SAID.

THERE ARE CASEWORK SERVICES TO HELP TRAINEES SOLVE THE IR PROBLEMS AND IN PLANNING THE IR RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY AT THE END OF THE IR COURSES, AS WELL AS GROUP WORK SERVICES TO ENRICH THEIR SOCIAL LIFE.

TO BROADEN THE OUTLOOK OF TRAINEES AND TO INCREASE THE IR EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS, THE CENTRE IN COOPERATION WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, OFFERS EVENING CLASSES IN CHINESE, ENGLISH AND GENERAL SUBJECTS.

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