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Social Welfare

in small group homes were provided for mildly mentally handicapped children who could not be adequately cared for by their families.

The Training Subsidy for Children who are on the Waiting List of Subvented Pre-school Rehabilitation Services under the CCF was incorporated into the government's regular assistance programme from October to subsidise children from low-income families in need of rehabilitation services so that they may acquire self-financing training and treatment services provided by NGOs while waiting for subvented services. The programme provided 1,422 training places in 2014.

Services for Adults with Disabilities

In 2014, the SWD provided 1,633 supported employment places for persons with disabilities to work in open settings with support and assistance, 432 places were created under the On the Job Training Programme for People with Disabilities and 311 places were made available for young persons with disabilities or early signs of mental illness under the Sunnyway - On the Job Training Programme for Young People with Disabilities. There were 5,111 places provided in sheltered workshops for those not yet ready to compete for open employment. There were also 453 places in integrated vocational training centres and 4,257 places in integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres.

By year-end, over $75 million had been allocated to 25 NGOs under the Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities Through Small Enterprise Project to enable them to set up 91 small businesses providing over 680 job opportunities for persons with disabilities. In tandem, the Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) assisted vocational rehabilitation services units in developing their marketing and business strategies and employment-aided services.

The Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities provides employers of persons with disabilities with a one-off subsidy of up to $20,000 for the procurement of assistive devices (increased in April to $40,000 for a single assistive device and its essential accessories) and/or workplace modifications to facilitate employment and work efficiency of their employees with disabilities.

In 2014, day activity centres provided 4,909 day training places for persons with intellectual disabilities. There were 8,148 places in hostels and care homes providing residential care services for persons with disabilities who were unable to live independently in the community, or whose families could not care for them adequately. There were also 365 residential places provided under the BPS for Private RCHDs. Blind elderly persons were provided with 825 places in care homes. For discharged mental patients, 1,509 places were provided in halfway houses and 1,587 in long stay care homes.

Residential Care Homes for Persons with Disabilities

The SWD monitors the operation of residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) under the Residential Care Homes (Persons with Disabilities) Ordinance. Complementary measures such as the Financial Assistance Scheme for Private RCHDs and Bought Place Scheme for Private RCHDs encourage private RCHDs to upgrade their service standards and provide more service options for persons with disabilities.

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