XN000022-1986-07-29 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1986

MORE PRE-SCHOOL PLACES FOR THE HANDICAPPED

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN OF PRE-SCHOOL AGE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE JOINT SPEECH DAY OF SCHOOLS OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AT THE CITY HALL, SHE SAID: +BY THE END OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR WE SHALL HAVE AN INCREASE OF 65 SUBVENTED EARLY EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRE PLACES, 120 SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRE PLACES AND 30 INTEGRATED CHILD CARE CENTRE PLACES.+

IN 1987-88 THERE WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 180 EARLY EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRE PLACES, 144 SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRE PLACES AND 30 TO 60 INTEGRATED CHILD CARE CENTRE PLACES.

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REALISE THAT MANY OF OUR FACILITIES ARE INADEQUATE TO MEET DEMAND BUT WE ARE MAKING STEADY PROGRESS AND I AM SURE THAT SOME HELP CAN BE ARRANGED EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE IDEAL,+ SHE SAID.

MRS CHAN URGED PARENTS TO MAKE FULL USE OF EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THE IR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND TO ENLIST THE HELP OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN CARING FOR THEM.

SOCIAL WORKERS COULD HELP TO EASE THE BURDEN OF PARENTS BY BEING PRESENT AT THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS AND HELPING PARENTS TO INTERPRET AND DISCUSS THE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS IN TERMS OF THE CHILD'S NEEDS AND FUTURE CARE.

THEY COULD ALSO HELP INFORM PARENTS OF THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE IR HAND ICAPPED CHILDREN AND ASSIST THEM IN OBTAINING FINANCIAL HELP AND THE NECESSARY PLACEMENTS AND SERVICES.

MRS CHAN SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS AWARE OF THE CURRENT LACK OF RESPITE FACILITIES WHICH COULD PROVIDE PARENTS WITH A SHORT REST FROM THE IR CAR ING RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT THERE WERE PLANS TO INTRODUCE A PILOT SCHEME FOR SUCH SERVICES NEXT YEAR IN A NEW DEPARTMENTAL FACILITY FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED,

SINCE RESOURCES WERE LIMITED, THE PILOT SCHEME WOULD AIM AT PROVIDING APPROPRIATE CARE FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS WITHOUT SPECIALLY DESIGNED TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.

+TO BE TRUE TO ITS NAME, THE PERIOD OF STAY WILL HAVE TO BE LIMITED TO NO MORE THAN TWO WEEKS, AND WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ABOUT 100 MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS IN A YEAR,

+THIS IS A MODEST BEGINNING BUT IT WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE DEMAND FOR SUCH A SERVICE AND TO IDENTIFY ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL DIFFICULTIES, SHE SAID.

IN THE LONGER RUN, SHE ADDED. IT WAS HOPED THAT RESOURCES WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM RELIEF TO ALL FAMILIES WITH MENTALLY HAND ICAPPED MEMBERS.

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