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In depth information about the provisions for children with special needs: details on education, benefits, carer's allowances and getting about in Hong Kong.
The Government's encourages integration for children with mild and severe disabilities. Government departments provide support for parents with disabled children and all children are regularly assessed in their early years. Hong Kong's Disability Discrimination Ordinance is an Equal Opportunities Commission and provides legislation to protect the disabled. Special Needs AssessmentThe Department of Health via its Child Assessment Service (CAS) assesses and identifies those with special needs and provides the necessary medical evidence to ensure that children are properly catered for with regard to their educational needs. Parents who suspect a child has a learning difficulty or a physical handicap need to approach this organisation.
Health and Social WelfareThe Social Welfare Department (SWD) is responsible for implementing government policy on social welfare and for developing and co-ordinating services. These include rehabilitation services for people with disabilities and services for young people as they move from education into the workplace.
The services take a variety of forms, from day and residential centres for children to providing social workers who counsel and support a family in need. Rehabilitation services are available to those with physical and mental disabilities. They include specialist childcare centres and kindergartens, activity centres, supported employment and on-the-job training for those with disabilities. This includes a scheme called Sunnyway – on-the-job training for young people with disabilities.
The SWD is supported by various non-government organisations and provides links to some of these organisations on its website. Contact details for various social work organisations can also be found on the SWD website. State benefitsThe SWD is also the agency responsible for financial benefits for the disabled. State benefits in Hong Kong are not particularly generous and income is taken into consideration. However, parents with disabled children can approach the SWD for help.
EducationWherever possible, attempts will be made to include disabled children in mainstream schools. However, this is not always possible and Hong Kong does have a number of specialist schools. By the time the planned secondary education reforms take effect in 2009, students with intellectual disabilities will be provided with 12 years of education and the curriculum will be adapted and revised to suit the needs all students. Pre-schoolThe SWD has some facilities for pre-school children with disabilities; some are fee-paying. Some of these may charge a fee.
The Child Development Centre at Matilda is a non-profit organisation providing a programme for children from birth to six years with learning difficulties. The Centre is partially subsidised by the SWD and helps a number of children from English-speaking families. The Watchdog Early Learning and Development Centre provides programmes for special needs children with cerebral palsy, Down's Syndrome, autism and learning difficulties. They can also help prepare children for entry into regular school.
Once children reach school age the Education Bureau (EDB) largely takes over responsibility for educational services. The Nesbitt Centre provides programmes in English for children aged 16 and over with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Special SchoolsThere are currently over 60 special schools including a hospital school (which operates classes at several hospitals). Places are provided in special schools for those with visual and hearing impairment, physical disabilities, adjustment and behavioural problems. Supervision and support for these schools comes from the Education Bureau (EDB) as with mainstream schools. These special schools are subsidised by the government but are run on a daily basis by various organisations. Some work in conjunction with mainstream schools which admit children with special needs. Where residential care is also provided this may be reimbursed to those in need. The class size of special schools is between 8 and 20 pupils, depending on the types of children served, and the staffing ratio is 1.5 teachers per class. Additional teaching and specialist staff also work with individuals or small groups. Parents who wish to apply for a place in one of these schools should visit the Education Bureau (EDB) website to find out more about individual schools and their facilities. Before a place can be awarded children must undergo assessment by the Department of Health. Consult the Child Assessment Service for details. They will ask for reports from a psychologist or other medical practitioner. Admission to special schools is usually made at age six and children are provided with nine years' education. Some students may be allowed to stay longer at school on the basis of their disability/individual needs. If at all possible, students are transferred from special schools to ordinary schools as soon as they no longer require the special facilities and resources. English-speaking special schoolsThe English Schools Foundation (ESF) has its own facilities for those with special educational needs. The ESF is supported by the government and charges lower fees than normal private sector schools. Essentially, the ESF aims to keep as many children as possible within their mainstream schools, by means of specialist staff and educational assistants. Admission is via the normal procedure so parents should approach their nearest ESF school and discuss their child's requirements. But those with more severe learning difficulties or physical disabilities are catered for separately. They are served by three primary and two secondary schools. Admission is through a review panel. Parents who feel these schools may be appropriate should consult the ESF website for more details and application procedures. Application forms and procedures for all of the ESF's specialist facilities are available via the website. In addition, there is one purpose-built school, the Jockey Club Sarah Roe School which caters for those with autism and many physical disabilities but it generally has a waiting list, so cases are prioritised. This school has an enrolment of 60 and a teacher student ratio of 1:7. The school can offer a range of therapy services, including speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. A bus service is operated courtesy of the school PTA which covers much of Hong Kong.
Education within mainstream schoolsWhere possible, children with less serious disabilities or learning disorders are provided with education which meets their needs within a mainstream school. This includes some kindergartens which support the government's "Integrated Programme." It is likely that children with disorders such as dyslexia and ADD would be helped within a mainstream school. However, as Chinese is becoming the main teaching language this is likely to add to the confusion for children who already have problems or do not speak Chinese. Many non-Chinese speakers therefore opt for schools run by the ESF.
Support within mainstream education is essentially provided via additional specialist help which is supported and funded by the EDB.
Private SchoolsThere are a number of private schools in Hong Kong and some offer facilities for those with disabilities. They are all fee-paying. Links to and reviews of many of these schools can be found on: Special Needs Associations in Hong Kong
Facilities for the DisabledHong Kong has a number of very active disability groups including sporting associations. On the whole facilities for the disabled are good and improving. Public transportPublic transport has made efforts to encourage and accommodate disabled travellers with initiatives such as Rehabus and Easy Access Bus. The Social Welfare Department (SWD) supports Cyberable – an organisation that provides information on public transport and parking for the disabled.
AccessMajor attractions (such as Disney) have been encouraged to make Hong Kong accessible to everyone.
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