XN000022-1983-06-16 — Page 3

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1983

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+AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, THE MENTALLY RETARDED HAVE AN ADDED BURDEN IN LEARNING TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES AND TO FIND AN ADEQUATE NICHE IN SOCIETY,+ HE ADDED.

HE SAID THAT EXPANSION OF SERVICES FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS HAD BEEN RAPID AND MANY OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED COULD NOW BE HELPED FROM BIRTH TO ADULTHOOD.

THE SERVICES FOR THEM INCLUDE 726 SPECIAL AND INTEGRATED CHILD CARE CENTRE PLACES, 34 SPECIAL SCHOOLS, 310 SPECIAL CLASSES, SIX VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES, 13 SHELTERED WORKSHOPS AND 22 HOSTELS.

REFERRING TO THE NEED FOR PRE-SCHOOL CARE, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT A SPECIAL WORKING PARTY WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR TO EXAMINE THIS ASPECT AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVED SERVICES.

THIS WORKING PARTY IS EXPECTED TO SUBMIT ITS REPORT TO THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER LATER THIS YEAR.

TURNING TO EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF MENTAL DISABILITY, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT PARENTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO BRING THE IR CHILDREN TO HATERNAL AND CHILD CENTRES RUN BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR REGULAR DEVELOPMENTAL CHECKS.

+THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT, HE SAID, +BECAUSE MILD OR MODERATE RETARDATION IS NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS TO THE PARENTS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT.

IF AN ABNORMALITY IS SUSPECTED, THE CHILD CAN BE REFERRED IMMEDIATELY TO A CHILD ASSESSMENT CENTRE WHERE PAEDIATRICIANS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, THERAPISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS ALL WORK AS A TEAM TO HELP ASSESS THE EXTENT OF THE HANDICAP.

TRAINING CAN THEN BEGIN AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE FOR THE BENEFIT BOTH OF THE RETARDED CHILD AND THE PARENTS.

AS EARLY AS TWO YEARS OF AGE, A RETARDED CHILD CAN ENTER EITHER AN ORDINARY CHILD CARE CENTRE WITH SPECIAL FACILITIES OR A SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRE. SPECIAL PROGRAMMES ARE DESIGNED TO SUIT EACH STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT,

+DELAYED TRAINING MAY MEAN THAT THE CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT IS IRREPARABLY SET BACK,+ MR CHAMBERS SAID. THE DIFFICULTY IS THAT A MENTALLY RETARDED CHILD HAS TO BE TAUGHT SPECIALLY THINGS THAT OTHER CHILDREN SIMPLY PICK UP FOR THEMSELVES.+

THIS VITAL WORK IS CARRIED OUT IN SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS SUBVENTING 360 SUCH PLACES IN CENTRES RUN BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

+THESE WILL BE INCREASED BY 120 EACH YEAR IN THE FUTURE,+ HE SAID.

TURNING TO