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Social Welfare

Services for Persons with Disabilities

Rehabilitation services are provided by government departments and NGOs to meet the different needs of persons with disabilities, and to help them develop their capabilities and integrate into society.

Pre-school Children with Special Needs

At the year end, the SWD was providing 1,980 integrated programme places in kindergarten- cum-child care centres; 2,170 places in special child care centres (including 122 residential places); 3,771 places in early education and training centres; and 8,074 places for on-site pre- school rehabilitation services for children with special needs. Small group homes and integrated small group homes provided 128 places for children with mild intellectual disabilities not receiving adequate care from their families.

Children with special needs on the waiting list of SWD-subvented pre-school rehabilitation services may apply under a Training Subsidy Programme for subsidised training provided by NGOs. The programme provided about 3,000 training places in 2020.

In the 2020-21 school year, the SWD launched the Pilot Project on Tier 1 Support Services in Kindergartens/Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres. Six project teams provide training for children awaiting assessments by the Department of Health's Child Assessment Centres and for children assessed as having only mild developmental problems who are studying at about 80 kindergartens covered by the project. The teams also provide consultation services to the children's teachers and parents.

Day Training and Vocational Rehabilitation

In 2020, day activity centres had 5,808 day training places for persons with intellectual disabilities. The SWD also provided 1,633 supported employment places for persons with disabilities to work in open settings under assistance, 432 places in the On the Job Training Programme for People with Disabilities, and 311 places for young people with disabilities or early signs of mental illness under the Sunnyway - On the Job Training Programme for Young People with Disabilities. For those not yet ready for open employment, the SWD provided 5,399 places in sheltered workshops and 5,523 places in integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres. Integrated vocational training centres had another 453 places.

As at 31 December, the Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise Project had allocated more than $134 million to 35 NGOs for setting up 128 small businesses, providing 919 job opportunities for persons with disabilities. A Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) helps NGOs set up such small businesses and manages the brand 'Let Them Shine' to promote products and services provided by persons with disabilities.

A Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities provides employers with up to $40,000 per employee with disabilities to buy assistive devices and to modify the workplace for these employees.

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