XN000022-1995-05-05 — Page 23

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Recommendations to improve services for autistic persons

The Hong Kong delegation which went on a study tour to Japan and the United States early this year to enrich local knowledge of rehabilitation service for autistic persons has produced a report outlining a number of recommendations in the light of local situation.

At a report-back seminar organised by the delegation for some 300 parents and service providers 'today (Friday), the chairman of the Rehabilitation Development Co- ordination Committee (RDCC), Dr Raymond Wu, and the Commission for Rehabilitation, Mr Allan Chow, introduced to the participants details of the recommendations in the report.

The report, which has been endorsed by RDCC, covers the following topics:

definition and prevalence rate

diagnosis and assessment

training and education for autistic pre-schoolers

training and education for autistic school-age children

services for autistic adults and

others

In summary, Dr Wu said, the delegation noted that the definition/diagnostic criteria as well as the planning ratio in Hong Kong were in line with overseas practice.

On training and education for autistic pre-schoolers, Dr Wu said more spacious premises should be provided and that training for special child care workers taking care of autistic pre-schoolers should be reinforced.

"Apart from supporting families with newly identified autistic children and enhancing social work input in special child care centres, more emphasis should be placed on training element vis-a-vis caring element in pre-school services.

added.

"The staff concerned should therefore have some background in education," he

Another recommendation the delegation made was to form a central co- ordinating group amongst the Education Department. Institute of Education and special schools to plan and organise systematic training on the TEACCH Programme (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children) in Hong Kong.