ENG-2015 — Page 209

10

Social Welfare

NGOs while waiting for the subvented services. The programme provided 1,422 training places in 2015.

The government launched a pilot scheme through the Lotteries Fund to invite NGOs operating subvented pre-school rehabilitation services to provide on-site services for children with special needs who are studying in kindergartens or kindergarten-cum-child care centres as early as possible. The scheme also offers professional advice for teachers and child care workers in the participating kindergartens or centres; and renders support to parents to help them accept and understand their children with special needs so as to foster overall development of those children. Initiatives under the scheme were implemented progressively from November 2015 to January 2016, providing a total of 2,925 places.

Services for Adults with Disabilities

In 2015, day activity centres offered 5,148 day training places for people with intellectual disabilities. The SWD also provided 1,633 supported employment places for persons with disabilities to work in open settings with support and assistance, created 432 places under a On the Job Training Programme for People with Disabilities, and made available 311 places 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 5,276 places available in sheltered workshops and 4,412 places in integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres for those not yet ready to compete for open employment. There were also 453 places in integrated vocational training centres.

By the year end, more than $94 million had been allocated to 28 NGOs under an Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities Through Small Enterprise Project (3E Project), enabling them to set up 103 small businesses providing about 760 job opportunities for persons with disabilities. In tandem, the Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) helped NGOs set up small businesses under the 3E Project and promoted products and services provided by persons with disabilities under the brand, Let Them Shine.

A Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities provides employers with a one-off subsidy of up to $20,000 to procure assistive devices and/or workplace modifications to facilitate the employment and work efficiency of their employees with disabilities. The programme also offers a maximum grant of $40,000 for a single assistive device that costs more than $20,000 and its essential accessories.

In 2015, there were 8,275 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 450 residential places provided under a Bought Place Scheme (BPS) for Private Residential Care Homes for Persons with. Disabilities (RCHDs). Blind elderly people were provided with 825 places in care-and-attention homes for the aged blind. For discharged mental patients, 1,509 places were provided in halfway houses and 1,587 in long-stay care homes.

169