Special Education Services
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In Hong Kong , a full range of special education services is provided by the Education Bureau for school children. These services are generally rendered at Special Education Services Centres, one in Kowloon Tong, Kowloon and the other in Kwai Chung, New Territories . The primary aim for the provision of these services is to identify children with special educational needs at an early stage so that remedial measures can be taken to prevent a mild impairment from becoming a serious or permanent one. The following is a brief summary of the services available: |
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Special Education Support Services |
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In-service training programmes and professional development courses/seminars/workshops on special education for teachers of special schools and ordinary schools Professional support for public-sector ordinary schools to implement a Whole School Approach to cater for students’ diverse learning needs Promotion of professional development and collaboration among special schools to enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning Seminars on special education for educational and other professional institutions
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| (2) | Referral and Placement Services |
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Professional advice on school placement for parents of children with special educational needs, and referral of the children with severe or multiple disabilities to special schools according to their individual needs
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| (3) | Special Education Resource Centre (http://www.edb.gov.hk/serc) |
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Provision of a digital platform for teachers to share information and resources on special education Provision of computers, multi-media equipment and library service for teachers so that they can refer to the teaching and learning resources and produce teaching materials
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| (4) | Audiological Service |
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Audiological services for children with hearing impairment Professional support and consultation to schools having children with hearing impairment Training and counselling to school personnel and parents on the management, education and services of children with hearing impairment Development of resources packages for supporting the educational needs of children with hearing impairment * Parents who have doubt about their children’s hearing are advised to seek medical consultation as soon as possible. When necessary, students with persistent hearing impairment will be referred by the schools or medical practitioners to the Speech and Hearing Services Section for further assessment and follow-up services.
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(5) |
Speech Therapy Service |
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Assessment and diagnosis services for students with speech and language impairments Support service for students with speech and language impairments through school-based support programmes, and provision of training and counselling to teachers and parents Professional consultation and support to schools regarding the communication problems of students and monitoring of school-based speech therapy services Professional consultation to speech therapy personnel in special schools Organizing training & networking activities and developing assessment tools & resource packages * If children are suspected of having speech and language impairments, parents may approach their children’s schools for assistance. When necessary, students will be referred by the school to the school-based speech therapist or the Speech and Hearing Services Section for further assessment and follow-up services. |
| (6) | Educational Psychology Service |
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Assessment service for students with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties Support and consultation to schools on the provision of appropriate remediation for students with special educational needs Professional support to schools in adopting a Whole School Approach to catering for students’ diverse educational needs Development of screening and assessment tools as well as teaching resources to support students with diverse educational needs Training and networking activities for school personnel and various stakeholders to promote understanding and to enhance knowledge and skills in meeting the diverse educational needs of students Crisis management support for schools * Parents with children having learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties could approach the student guidance personnel of the primary school or social worker/guidance teacher of the secondary school for initial advice and support. When needed, schools may refer these students to educational psychologists for consultation and assessment. |
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| (7) | School- based Support Service |
| A Special Education Support Officer or inspector from Education Bureau is assigned to each public-sector primary school and secondary school to serve as a resource person to help schools promote the inclusive culture and develop school-based policy for supporting students with special educational needs. | |
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Center-based Support Service |
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Short-term centre-based Adjustment Programmes are provided for public sector primary and secondary school students with serious emotional, behavioural and adjustment difficulties. |
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| (9) | Resource Schools and Special Schools cum Resource Centres |
| Ordinary Resource Schools on Whole School Approach and Special Schools cum Resource Centres (SSRC) are established to provide network support for students with special educational needs through teacher empowerment, on-site support and sharing of experience and resources. In the 2011/12 - 2012/13 school years, there are 8 primary Resource Schools , 5 secondary Resource Schools and 12 SSRC. Some SSRC also offer short-term attachment programmes mainly for ordinary school students with intellectual disability and severe adjustment difficulties on a need basis. |
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| (10) | Other Service |
| (a) Special Examination Arrangement Recommendation for special arrangements for candidates with special educational needs (b) Training for Professional Trainees Supervision for trainees of educational psychology, speech therapy and audiology (c) Advisory Service Professional advice for pre-school centres, special and ordinary schools, non-governmental organisations and government departments on the education services for children with special educational needs |
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For enquiries, schools, parents and professional workers may contact the following Special Education Services Centres:
Special Education Services General Office, Ha Kwai Chung Special Education Services Centre,
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More information on Whole School Approach to Integrated Education can be found at the following webpage: http://www.edb.gov.hk/sen |
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