XN000022-1991-07-17 — Page 31

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1991

GOVT'S PROGRAMMES FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED EXPLAINED

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HOME-BASED

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS INTRODUCED TRAINING PROGRAMMES AS AN INTERIM MEASURE FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS AWAITING PLACEMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, HON ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON RONALD ARCULLI, MRS SAID THE AIM WAS TO ENABLE THEM TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN SELF-CARE OTHER MAINTENANCE OR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

THE

WONG

AND

MRS WONG EXPLAINED THAT THE PROGRAMMES WERK ΤΟ MINIMISE THE ADVERSE EFFECT OF SCHOOL LEAVERS STAYING IDLY AT HOME AND TO MAINTAIN AND DEVELOP THE SKILLS WHICH THEY ACQUIRED FROM SPECIAL EDUCATION TO FACILITATE THEIR FUTURE PLACEMENT.

SHE ALSO SAID THERE WAS A SHORTFALL OF 2,176 DAY ACTIVITY CENTRES (DAC) PLACES.

"PROVISION OF AN ADDITIONAL 1,000 PLACES BY 1994-95 PLANNED," SHE SAID.

IS

MRS WONG STRESSED THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF DAC WAS TO HELP MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT IN THEIR DAILY LIVING AND PREPARED THEM FOR SHRLTERED OR SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT WHERE POSSIBLE.

THE SECRETARY SAID ONE ADMISSION CRITERIA FOR DAC'S WAS AS DAC'S CATERED FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS, AGED 15 AND ABOVE, WHO LACKED THE ABILITY TO BENEFIT FROM VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND SHELTERED OR OPEN EMPLOYMENT, THE APPLICANT SHOULD HAVE POTENTIAL TO LEARN AND BE ABLE TO RECEIVE AND FOLLOW SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS.

HOWEVER, MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT DAC'S DID NOT ACCEPT PEOPLE WHO WERE BED-RIDDEN OR REQUIRED INFIRMARY CARE OR OTHER FORMS OF MEDICAL CARE.

SHE SAID IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE CRITERIA DID NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.

"ALL APPLICANTS MEETING THE CRITERIA ARE TREATED EQUALLY WHEN THEY SEEK ADMISSION.

"TO FACILITATE THE PLACEMENT OF PUPILS, INCLUDING THE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED PUPILS, FROM SPECIAL SCHOOLS INTO VARIOUS POST-SCHOOL, SERVICES FOR DISABLED ADULTS, THE PLACEMENT PROCEDURES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN REVIEWED AND STREAMLINED," MRS WONG SAID.

IN ADDITION, A SET OF STANDARDISED ADMISSION CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES FOR ADULT SERVICES HAD BERN ADOPTED BY ALL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS, SHE ADDED.

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