XN000022-1984-05-27 — Page 6

SUNDAY, MAY 27, 1984

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SIMPLE AIDS BRING BIG REWARDS

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+ I THOUGHT TAKING AN ACCOUNTANCY COURSE WAS ONLY A DREAM BUT WITH THE HELP OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT MY DREAM HAS BEEN REALISED, MR LAU TUNG-PONG, A 27- YEAR-OLD DISABLED STUDENT, SAID RECENTLY.

THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THE DISABLED SECTION FULFILLED THE DREAM BY CONVERTING THE STUDENT COMMON ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INTO A LECTURE ROOM FOR THIS STUDENT WHO CAN NEITHER MOUNT THE STAIRS NOR USE A WHEELCHAIR.

RAMPS WERE ALSO CONSTRUCTED IN THE INSTITUTE TO FACILITATE HIS ENTRANCE AND EXIT.

THIS STUDENT, WHO ONCE THOUGHT HIS DISABILITY WOULD BAR HIM FROM A MEANINGFUL JOB AND LIFE, IS NOW LEARNING ACCOUNTANCY WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM AND HOPES TO TAKE UP AN ADVANCED COURSE IN THE SUBJECT.

+WE HOPE MORE PEOPLE LIKE MR LAU WILL MAKE USE OF OUR SERVICE TO DEVELOP THE IR POTENTIAL, THE PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR OF THE SECTION, MR GEORGE RIBEIRO, SAID TODAY.

BESIDES OFFERING VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO DISABLED STUDENTS IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, THE SECTION ALSO WELCOMES REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL AIDS FROM INDIVIDUALS OR ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE DISABLED, HE SAID.

AT THE TECHNICAL AIDS AND RESOURCE CENTRE, SITUATED IN THE LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IN KOWLOON TONG, SPECIAL AIDS ARE MADE TO HELP DISABLED PERSONS IMPROVE THEIR LEARNING OR WORKING CONDITIONS.

MOST OF THE COMPLETED PROJECTS WERE REQUESTED BY THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SECTION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WHICH CAN IDENTIFY THE NEED OF DISABLED PERSONS WHEN THEY APPLY FOR JOBS, AND BY STUDENTS STUDYING IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.

INSPECTORS OF THE SECTION VISIT THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES REGULARLY TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS OF DISABLED STUDENTS AND SUPPLY ANY NECESSARY ASSISTANCE OR SPECIAL AIDS.

AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM THESE SPECIAL AIDS IS A MANUFACTURING WORKER WHO CAN NOW USE HIS ELBOW TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF HIS SEWING MACHINE.

A WORKER WHOSE RIGHT HAND AND FINGERS ARE BENT AFTER AN ACCIDENT, IS ABLE TO KEEP UP HIS WORK WITH THE HELP OF A FINGER EXTENSION DEVICE USING WRIST SUPPORT.

+GIVEN THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR POTENTIAL AND ABILITY. DISABLED PERSONS CAN MAKE THE SAME CONTRIBUTION AS THEIR NORMAL COUNTERPARTS, SAID MR RIBEIRO, AND THE PRIME OBJECTIVE OF OUR SECTION IS TO GIVE THEM SUCH HELP. +

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