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330 additional supported employment places

The Social Welfare Department has secured funding to establish an additional 330 places in supported employment service this year, the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Ian Strachan, said today (Friday).

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Salvation Army Shaukeiwan Day Activity Centre, Mr Strachan said this was a form of employment for disabled persons, which allowed them to work in an integrated open setting with ongoing support service, and to have access to the usual benefits of having a job, such as income at market rates and satisfaction of real work achievement.

"Most important of all, disabled workers would have opportunities to work with ordinary workers, to relate to others in ordinary social situations and to enjoy a fuller social life.

"We are also reviewing the role of sheltered workshops as we wish to see more capable sheltered workers move on to a more independent work settings like supported employment programmes, or even open employment," he said.

Turning to the overall objective in rehabilitation, Mr Strachan said it was to help disabled persons to integrate into the community, to lead an independent life as far as their capability permitted and to enjoy equal opportunities as ordinary citizens.

"For mentally handicapped adults, the day activity centre is designed to provide them basic training in self-care, daily living and social skills, as well as occupational and simple work training.

"Given the chance to develop their potential to the fullest extent possible, some of these trainees can ultimately move on to other programmes such as sheltered workshop. Other may need to stay on for a longer term training and care," he said.