XN000022-1984-06-09 — Page 5

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1984

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MORE REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN PLANNED

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THE YEAR 1984 COULD TURN OUT TO BE A KEY YEAR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR VERY YOUNG HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (DEVELOPMENT), MRS ELIZABETH BOSHER WHEN SHE OPENED THE KWAI SHING CENTRE OF THE HEEP HONG SOCIETY FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING.

MRS BOSHER SAID THAT THE WORKING PARTY ON PRE-SCHOOL CARE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF DISABLED CHILDREN HAD PINPOINTED AREAS WHICH IT FELT TO BE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN.

THE PARTY'S RECOMMENDATIONS, CONTAINED IN ITS RECENTLY PUBLISHED REPORT, HAD BEEN WIDELY ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, SHE SAID.

+FIRST IS THE IMPORTANCE OF BEGINNING TRAINING OF THE DISABLED CHILD AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT NO TIME IS LOST DURING THE CRITICAL EARLY MONTHS OF DEVELOPMENT, SHE SAID.

UNTIL NOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO POLICY FOR THE PROVISION OF REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR INFANTS UNDER TWO.

AS A RESULT OF THE WORKING PARTY'S RECOMMENDATIONS, THE GOVERNMENT NOW PLANS TO MAKE AVAILABLE SERVICES TO DISABLED INFANTS, AND THE IR PARENTS, FROM BIRTH ONWARDS.

+EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMMES, DESIGNED TO ADVISE PARENTS ON HOW TO TRAIN THEIR OWN CHILDREN AT HOME WILL BE DEVELOPED THROUGH A NETWORK OF EARLY EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRES.

+THESE CENTRES WILL BE RUN MAINLY BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND IN THE 'LONG TERM, IT IS INTENDED THAT THEY SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, + MRS BOSHER SAID.

SECONDLY, THE WORKING PARTY HAS RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE OF ADEQUATE STAFFING OF SERVICES FOR PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN.

THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO DEVELOP NEW TRAINING COURSES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR STAFF WORKING WITH PRE-SCHOOL DISABLED CHILDREN.

MRS BOSHER SAID THAT IN ADDITION, IT WAS INTENDED TO UPGRADE THE BASIC QUALIFICATION AND SALARIES OF CHILD CARE STAFF WORKING WITH DISABLED CHILDREN AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH MORE HIGHLY 'SKILLED PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT IN SUCH AREAS AS PHYSIOTHERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL AND SPEECH THERAPY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES.

/+LAST, BUT