XN000022-1993-05-19 — Page 14

REHABILITATION SERVICES

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1993

REHABILITATION SERVICES ARE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY.

THESE SERVICES RANGE FROM EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF DISABILITY, PREVENTION, EDUCATION AND TRAINING ΤΟ REHABILITATION, EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES TO FACILITATE TRUE INTEGRATION IN SOCIETY.

TRUE INTEGRATION WILL TURN DISABILITY INTO ABILITY. IT WILL ENABLE PERSONS WITH VARIOUS DISABILITIES TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE IN THEIR DAILY LIFE, TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND TO SHARE IN THE PROSPERITY OF THE SOCIETY WHICH IS OURS.

KEY TARGETS

AN ISSUE OF WIDESPREAD CONCERN WHICH EMERGED FROM THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE LAST YEAR ON THE GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION WAS THE SIGNIFICANT SHORTFALL IN REHABILITATION SERVICES.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS RESPONDED QUICKLY TO THE CALL FOR SERVICES. THE NECESSARY FUNDS HAVE NOW BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO MEET IN FULL THE KEY TARGETS IN THE GREEN PAPER BETWEEN NOW AND 1996/97.

WB

WE ARE FIRMLY COMMITTED TO MEETING THESE TARGETS ON TIME. ARE VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE STRENGTH OF HONOURABLE MEMBERS' SUPPORT IN THIS DEBATE FOR EARLY AND SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION.

PREJUDICE

HOWEVER, THE RECENT OBJECTIONS BY CONCERNED RESIDENTS ΤΟ THE SETTING UP OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES IN THEIR NEIGHBOURHOOD CALLS FOR A MORE CONCENTRATED AND IMMEDIATE EFFORT IN OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMES. WE NEED TO DEMOLISH THE SHAMEFUL WALL OF EXCLUSION; TO TURN STUMBLING BLOCKS INTO STEPPING STONES; AND TO LIBERALIZE SOCIETY FROM THE SHACKLES OF PREJUDICE UNDER WHATEVER GUISE.

RIGHT TO KNOW

I FULLY SHARE THE VIEWS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RIGHT TO KNOW. IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THEIR NEIGHBOURHOOD. THE SETTING UP OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, IN THE SAME WAY AS EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, MUST BE THE MAJOR INTEREST OF LOCAL RESIDENTS. PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THESE FACILITIES ARE RESOURCES VALUABLE TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT TO ALLAY ANXIETIES OVER THE LACK OF INFORMATION AND TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF PLANNED REHABILITATION FACILITIES AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY. THIS WILL LEAD TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.

/HERE, I