ENG-1996 — Page 240

SOCIAL WELFARE

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disabilities, through in-patient, day hospital, out-patient and community settings. The Social Welfare Department plans and develops a wide range of social rehabilitation services, either through direct service provision or subvention to non-governmental organisations. The Education Department plans and develops education and related supportive services for school-aged children with a disability. The Labour Department provides an employment service for people with hearing impairment, visual impairment, physical handicap, chronic illness or mental handicap and ex- mentally ill persons. The Transport Department subvents a Rehabus service for people who have difficulties in using public transport. The Vocational Training Council provides and co-ordinates vocational training for people with a disability.

The Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Mentally Handicapped, set up in 1988, aims to further the welfare, education and training of people with a mental handicap and to promote their employment prospects. The management and use of the foundation's funds are determined by a council appointed by the Governor. During the year, the foundation allocated about $13 million in the form of grants or sponsorship to 69 non-governmental organisations and three government departments, enabling them to undertake projects for the benefit of such people. The fund stood at $142.5 million on March 31, 1996.

At the end of the year, the department and non-governmental organisations provided a total of 1 030 integrated programme places, 1 101 special child care places (including 78 residential places), 1 375 early education and training centre places for pre-school disabled children and 72 small group home places for school-aged disabled children. In addition, an enhanced training programme with inputs from clinical psychologists was provided to autistic children in special child care centres. For adults with a disability, there were 2 898 day activity centre places providing day care, daily living skills and work training for mentally handicapped persons. Also there were 5 675 sheltered workshop places providing employment for those unable to compete in the open job market; 950 places in various supported employment schemes providing job opportunities for those who, given support, can manage in open work settings. With regard to residential services, there were 3 547 hostel places, 17 supported housing places and 154 supported hostel places for those who could neither live independently nor be adequately cared for by their families, or who lived in areas too remote from their places of training or employment. For aged blind people unable to look after themselves adequately, or who were in need of care and attention, 595 places were provided in homes and care-and-attention homes. In addition, 570 long-stay care home places, 977 halfway house places and 180 activity centre places were provided for recovered mental patients.

Twenty-two social and recreational centres and six parents/relatives resource centres were provided for different categories of people with a disability.

To improve service quality, professional backup from clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists is provided in rehabilitation day centres and hostels. Other support services include the respite service (which provides short- term relief to families with mentally handicapped persons); five home-based training teams (which help to train mentally handicapped persons while they are awaiting placement); and 40 places of occasional child-care service for children with a disability.

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