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2016

Yau Lai Centre was officially named Shanghai Fraternity Association Yau Lai Centre on 3 December. Officiating at the ceremony were Mr Stephen Siu, JP, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr William Lee Tak-lun, Chairman of Shanghai Fraternity Association, Mr Ronald Wong Sui-lieng, Supervisor of Shanghai Fraternity Association, Mr Tony Yen, Member of the Executive Committee of the Society, Ms Nancy Tsang, Director of the Society and a parent of the Society. It symbolised the partnership between Shanghai Fraternity Association and the Society in supporting children and youth with special needs and their families.
The Academy for Professional Education and Development (APED) invited Honorary Lecturer of the University of Manchester cum consultant speech and language therapist Dr Catherine Aldred to present the PACT (Pre-school Autism Communication Therapy) Model and its research findings for the first time in Hong Kong. Over 250 professionals attended the seminar. Dr Aldred personally conducted a 2-day workshop on PACT for the Society’s professional team.
The ‘Happy Parenting’ programme was honoured with the Gold Award in the 2016 Wofoo Asian Award for Advancing Family Well-Being organised by the Consortium of Institutes on Family in the Asian Region (CIFA). The effectiveness study of the programme was published in Issue 56 of the authoritative international journal Research in Developmental Disabilities in June. These two recognitions were testaments to the professionalism of the programme and marked a milestone in the Society’s family support service development.
The Society was awarded the Excellence in Collaboration Award and Excellence in Participation Award by the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged (PFD) directed by the Social Welfare Department for its achievements of having solicited the sponsorship of numerous business partners and run a multitude of service projects. Over the years, 213 non-governmental organisations and schools have participated in the PFD. The Society was one of the eight organisations which were commended on the occasion, and also one of the two organisations which received both awards.
Director Ms Nancy Tsang was conferred Honorary University Fellowship by The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the professional field of rehabilitation services. For over 30 years, Ms Tsang has devoted herself unstintingly to her profession and established an illustrious career in the sector. Under her leadership, the Society has evolved from a small-sized NGO into one of Hong Kong’s leading service providers in the field.
In response to the demand for children training in the New Territories, the Society opened the Supportive Learning Project Yuen Long Centre in May. The centre offers an array of individual and group training services. In November, the Supportive Learning Project launched the online consultation service in an effort to cater to the needs of working parents and those who cannot visit the centre regularly. In addition to training at the centre, parents can record their domestic training sessions with their children and send it to the trainers for analysis and recommendations.
Offered in partnership between the Society and The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK), the Bachelor of Education with Honours in Early Childhood Education: Leadership and Special Educational Needs recorded an over 50% increase in enrolment as it entered the second year of provision. In September, the Society signed a collaboration agreement with OUHK to continue to provide early childhood education programmes and enrichment courses.
Director Ms Nancy Tsang elaborated the Society’s pioneering service model for supporting kindergarten students with special needs at the World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP) World Conference in Seoul. Ms Tsang was also invited to attend the 80th anniversary celebration and academic conference of Nanjing Maternal and Child Health Hospital. She shared insights into the early identification of and intervention for children with special needs with medical practitioners.
The Society was in active collaboration with tertiary education institutes to conduct research. Five abstracts were submitted to and accepted by the Hong Kong ASD Conference 2016: Supporting Learning and Development organised by the JC A-Connect: Jockey Club Autism Support Network. Three of the Society’s educational psychologists spoke at the seminars about on-campus group training and introduced the Happy Parenting programme to fellow professionals in the sector.
A new advertisement campaign with the theme ‘Job Opportunities for Autistic Youth’ to promote the Society’s Star Project, which provides training and employment opportunities for autistic youth, was launched. The advertisement appeared on MTR lines and the Star Ferry pier.
One of the pioneers in implementing the SCERTS Model and Deputy Head teacher of Columbia Grange School, Ms Rosey Walker visited three of the Society’s centres in May. She praised the Society for the effectiveness in improving the children’s social communication and emotional regulation competences through the SCERTS Model. She was impressed by the Society’s Social Emotion app. Ms Walker also introduced how to use the PIVATS system for assessment to the SCERTS team and psychologist team of the Society.
The Society launched the 30-month ‘Pilot Project on Strengthening Support for Persons with Autism and their Parents/Carers’ (SSAP) in April with funding from the Social Welfare Department. The project provides case counselling for high-functioning autistic youth who are aged over 15 and their families. Consultation service is offered to other rehabilitation institutions to support autistic youth with behavioral and emotional problems.
The Society and Rotary Club of Tolo Harbour, with the support of 14 mainland organisations, launched an unprecedented community project—the Star Classroom— to provide world-class and evidence-based training for special educators and parents in Guangdong Province. The programme offered 10 courses with 1,000 places, which totalled 120 hours of training on autism interventions. 100 early childhood educators, 300 parents and 20 social workers benefitted from the programme. The kick-off ceremony was held on 2nd April at the Guangzhou Library. Officiating guests included Mr Luo Zhiyi, Director of the Coordination Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong S.A.R. and representatives of the Society and Rotary Club.
Commissioned by the Education Bureau, the Society offered the ‘Professional Development Programme for Kindergarten Teachers on Catering for Learner Diversity’ (KGPDP) from March to May 2016 and December 2016 to March 2017. The programme was designed to help kindergarten teachers acquire the knowledge and skills to identify the children with learning difficulties and provide appropriate support for them.
Ms Winnie Fok Wai-fun, wife of Chief Executive of Macao and honorary advisor of Ze Ai Association, visited Wan Chai centre in March with the members of Ze Ai Association to observe the training and operations at the centre.
The physiotherapist team designed the Touch and Swipe app, which includes 10 interesting games with vivid images and sound effects for children with severe intellectual disabilities and limited body control. This app is useful for parents, teachers and rehabilitation therapists in training children’s physical abilities.

2015

The Society established the Jockey Club STAR Resource Centre in September and held the opening ceremony on 12 December. Officiated by Chief Secretary Mrs Carrie Lam and Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Mr Anthony Chow, the new Centre represents a new service model to support individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Hong Kong.
Collaborated with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the University of Hong Kong, the Scoeity developed the ‘Happy Parenting’ programme. This is a comprehensive parenting course and is also the first evidence-based, local parenting course tailor-made for parents of children with special needs. The Society held the seminar and announced the findings of the effectiveness study of the ‘Happy Parenting’ programme in early November. According to the findings, this programme significantly alleviated the participants’ parenting stress and their children’s behavioural problems, further improved parenting skills and foster better parent-child relationship.
The Society formed four teams of professionals to join the ‘Pilot Scheme on On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services’ initiated by the Social Welfare Department. The Society was invited to present the effective service model of its ‘Early Intervention and Integrated Support for Kindergarten Students with Special Educational Needs’ project sponsored by the Lee Hysan Foundation at the launch of the Pilot Scheme on 14 November. Together with this Project, the Society supports 500 students at nearly 60 kindergartens.
Findings of the effectiveness study of the ‘Early Intervention and Integrated Support for Kindergarten Students with Special Educational Needs’ project was announced on 24 October. The study concluded that the dual model, combining school-based support and centre training was effective and have shed light on the future service model for supporting children with SEN.
Chief Secretary for Administration Mrs Carrie Lam visited New Jade Elementi Kindegarten and the Society's Wan Tsui Centre in April 2015 to observe the 'Early Intervention and Integrated Support for Kindergarten Students with SEN'.
The Special Needs Groups Task Force under the Commission on Poverty, the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare Ms A. Tam, Director of Social Welfare Ms C.Yip, Secretary for Education Mr E. Ng, Permanent Secretary Mrs M. Lai, Under Secretary Mr K. Yeung also visited the Heep Hong Centre and listended to the view of parents, kindergarten principals and early childhood education specialists in April and May..
Heep Hong has collaborated with The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) in September on the provision of top-up face to face mode of academic programme - Bachelor of Education with Honours in Early Childhood Education: Leadership and Special Educational Needs. The programme equips students with professional knowledge and skills in teaching children with special needs through theoretical learning and practical training.
Sponsored by the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged, the Society launched three-year ‘After School Tutoring Support for Students with SEN in Mainstream Schools’ Programme in September to provide academic support as well as communication and emotional management training for 240 SEN children of Primary 1 and 2. The after-school support groups offered parents support service to relieve their stress.
The nine-year project ‘READ & WRITE: A Jockey Club Learning Support Network’ was successfully concluded in end October. Since the programme launch in 2006, the Society’s team of professionals collaborated with 50 kindergartens and district organisations to help 2,300 children at risk of dyslexia. An effectiveness study showed that, after receiving one year of school-based support services, children achieved significant improvement in their listening, speaking, reading and writing competences, and almost 30% of them were removed from the at risk category.
Under the sponsorship of the Jockey Club Charities Trust and in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Science of the University of Hong Kong and Education Bureau, the Society participated in the 3-year project of the ‘JC A-Connect: Jockey Club Autism Support Network’ to support children with ASD at mainstream schools and offered family and community support to assist family members in raising their children.
Under the sponsorship of the Community Chest, the Society launched the ‘Executive Function Training Programme for Children with ADHD’ in August to enhance social communications and self-management skills of children.
Samsung organised the Solve For Tomorrow competition in July to invite University students to develop apps for children with special educational needs (SEN). The Society was one of the strategic partners, participated in the judging process, and co-organised several activities, including a talk by our educational psychologist and a centre visit. The participating students were able to gain a deeper understanding of SEN children’s difficulties and their daily training routines. Moreover, Samsung donated tablets amounting to HK$300,000 provide SEN children with better training facilities.
‘Big Feet Playground－Sensory Awareness and Physical Activities for Children 0-3 Years’ was published in July. The book is written by pediatric physiotherapists of the Society, comprises over 120 home training activities to help infants and toddlers develop their awareness and perception of their seven body senses and motor coordination competences.
The Society has adopted the SCERTS Model, an integrated teaching approach for ASD, in all Special Child Care Centres under the sponsorship of Ai You (Hong Kong) Foundation. Children have improved significantly in social communication and emotional regulation through the transactional support of the cross-disciplinary professional teams and parents. The Society has organised the ‘SCERTS Seminar – Essence of Improving Social Communications and Emotional Regulation’ in June to introduce the model to the professionals and parents. The ‘SCERTS Model Implementation Manual’ and the mobile apps were also launched to help children regulate their emotions.
Participated for the first time the ‘Guangzhou’s International Kid’s Education & Health Expo 2015’ and ‘Guangzhou Children’s Health Forum’ in early June to introduce its services, professional courses and teaching materials. The event further strengthened the cooperation between the Society and its counterparts in China.
The Society’s long-term partner, Mr Frederick Leung, won the Bronze Award in the ‘International Design Award 2015’ Interior Design (Institutional) Category for the relocated Pak Tin Early Education and Training Centre. The Centre was designed with a welcoming city setting surrounded by modern and yet funny transport vehicles. This special design not only provided children with a vibrant learning environment but also instilled the concept of road safety to assist children adapt to community living.
The Society and the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Psychology jointly conducted a survey on ‘Social Activities for Pre-school Autistic Children’ among 387 concerned parents at 14 centres. A press conference was held in late March to announce the results. 65% of the respondents worried about taking care of their children, thus reducing children’s chance to adapt to the community. In response, the Society provided social adaptation training to equip the children with practical social skills to help them overcome hurdles.
Partnered with RTHK Radio 1 for a 10-episode series on developmental disorders, in which the professional team explained the causes and characteristics, as well as parents’ sharing on raising up their children with SEN. The programmes were broadcast during March to May.

2014

Our cross-disciplinary teams developed an impressive range of resources, including Sports Training for Lower Primary Students with Autism, Infinity Star Academy: A Storybook on Integrated Education, Parent Manual on Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Guide to Enhancing Children’s Self-Care Skills (English/Urdu/Nepali versions). These resources serve to provide parents and teachers with effective and interesting training methods; and promote peer understanding and acceptance.
42 and 15 more places were added in Wan Tsui Centre and Cheung Ching Centre in September respectively. Wan Tsui Centre now offers special child care services too.
A new Early Education and Training Centre was established in Yau Lai Estate in Yau Tong in November offering 96 places.
Pak Tin Centre was relocated to Shui Tin House in Pak Tin Estate and Catherine Lo Centre in Sandy Bay was moved to a temporary site in Wah Fu Estate in March. The opening ceremony was held in December with Ms Carol Yip Man-kuen, JP, Director of Social Welfare, as the officiating guest.
Director of the Society led a delegation consisting of 12 local practitioners to Singapore. The team visited various government departments and special education institutions and exchanged views on integrated education and support models for pre-school special needs children with the local government representatives, professionals and academics. In April, representatives of the Ministry of Social and Family Development of Singapore visited centres of the Society to further discuss the rehabilitation services in Hong Kong and Singapore.
The Society jointly organised the 50th Anniversary Conference on ‘Enhancing Inner Strength: New Service Direction in Helping Children with Childhood Developmental Disorders and their Families’ with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in March. The event and its eight concurrent workshops attracted an audience of over 1,000 people, with which world-acclaimed academics and professionals shared their latest findings. On the five days following the Conference, fundamental and advanced courses were held in which Ms Emily Rubin, a co-founder of the SCERTS Model, further illustrated the assessment and training methodology of the model. Another speaker Dr Larissa G Duncan also delivered a two-day workshop on mindfulness and parenting for more than 50 seasoned psychologists and social workers.
Professional teams initiate to develop interactive software as complementary training tools. The ADHD Hero app helps children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder improve executive functions including inhibition of behavioural responses and the ability to plan and organise. The Problem Solving Kit app and the Happy Community app train the problem-solving and adaptation skills of children with developmental disorders. The Pre-writing Fun Journey app won the ‘Best Digital Inclusion (Product/Application) Certificate of Merit’ in Hong Kong ICT Awards 2014 for helping children of different abilities prepare for the development of handwriting skills.
Heep Hong Parents’ Association played an active role in voicing out parents’ concerns. It liaised with multiple parent associations, academic institutions, members of the Legislative Council and related authorities to improve the support services and career prospects of autistic youth. In May, members of the Association and their children were invited to visit Mrs Carrie Lam, the Chief Secretary for Administration, at her official residence. They shared their child-rearing challenges and views on existing services and policies.
The Society provided school-based support at 18 kindergartens and found that after receiving one year of support services from the Society’s ‘READ & WRITE: A Jockey Club Learning Support Network’, the 300-plus participating children at risk of dyslexia showed substantial improvement. 30% of them were no longer identified as at risk of dyslexia, and their ability caught up with their normal peers. The Society shared its experience and insights in the enhanced edition of The Language Learning Package for Pre-primary Children, which was distributed free of charge to all kindergartens. The complementary Guide to Language Development of Pre-primary Children for Parents was published and made available for parents of children at risk of dyslexia. More than 10 seminars were held for kindergarten principals, teachers and parents with enthusiastic responses.
In the 2013/14 Family-Friendly Employers Award Scheme organised by the Family Council, the Society outcompeted nearly 2,000 contestants and became one of the winners of the Distinguished Family-Friendly Employer Award.
Elephant Parade donated 1,700 small elephant statues to the Society for children painting, and auctioned off the elephant statue painted by movie star Mr and Mrs Donnie Yen with net proceeds to the Society. The elephant statues painted were displayed in Citiplaza, Phase 1 as a call for public understanding and acceptance of children with developmental disorders.
The ‘Holistic Employment Support Scheme for High-functioning Adolescents and Young Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorders’ was launched to help autistic youth lead an independent life. Running into its sixth year, the ‘Pre-job Training for Autistic Youths’ project held juggling and magic classes to equip autistic youth with job skills for self-employment. Both Island and Kowloon Shangri-La also organised ‘Career Talk for Autistic Youths’ to acquaint participants with the hospitality industry.
A seminar on autism was co-organised with Fuhong Society of Macau and Macau Autism Association and met with enthusiastic responses with famous artists Mr and Mrs Chan Kam Hung joining in with more than 400 parents, residents, government officials and fellow practitioners.
A two-year project ‘Early Intervention and Integrated Support for Kindergarten Students with SEN’ was lunched to provide holistic-school-based support including curriculum design and teaching training for 10 kindergartens and individual training for participating children at its centres, amounting to a stepped-up effort to shorten the children’s waiting time. In addition, the Society initiated the ‘Timely Intervention for Underprivileged Families with SEN Children’ project to provide 100 pre-school children from the sandwich class, who cannot benefit from the Training Subsidy for Pre-school Children with Disabilities of the government (with reference to 75% of the Median Monthly Domestic Household Income), with affordable intervention until they are admitted to subvented services. This service relieved pressure on the sandwich class.
The Society collaborated with the Open University of Hong Kong again to develop the Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Early Childhood Education: Leadership and Special Educational Needs) for training early childhood educators. The five core courses, all designed by our experienced educational psychologists and therapists, are namely ‘Early Assessment and Intervention’, ‘Supporting Young Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders’, ‘Teaching Pre-school Children at Risk of Dyslexia’, ‘Language Delay and Training’, and ‘Characteristics, Assessment and Management of Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Tendencies in Early Childhood.’
Having reviewed the future development plans and consulted with stakeholders, the Society has formulated new vision, mission and core values to manifest the aspiration and commitment of the Society to respond to the times and demand for services, and hopes that through concerted efforts, we could create a brighter future for children and youth with diverse needs and their families with all our HEART.
For more systemic sharing of professional knowledge and training strategies with practitioners and parents, Heep Hong Society consolidated its resources to establish the Academy for Professional Education and Development (APED). The inauguration ceremony was held on 15 November with Miss Annie Tam, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, as the officiating guest. On the same occasion, APED held the Seminar on ‘Early Intervention and Integrated Support Identification and Support for Kindergarten Students with Special Educational Needs’. Dr Maggie Koong, World President of the World Organization for Early Childhood Education, shared her views on the international trends in support services for special needs children at kindergarten, while the professional team of the Society elaborated on practical methods to identify and support those children.
The ‘Support Programme for Children with Specific Learning Difficulties’ achieved spectacular results and once again secured sponsorship from the Community Chest of Hong Kong. During 2014-2016, the programme will offer specific group training and therapies to 260 children who are studying in mainstream primary school but have specific learning difficulties, as well as seminars for parents and teachers.
Under the sponsorship of the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged, the Society implemented the support programme for ADHD children and youth. The final activity of the Programme - ‘Inter-school Brain Potential Challenge’ showed the great improvements of the students.
The Society has provided over 300 places for the ‘Training Subsidy Programme’ to provide training for the Subvented pre-school rehabilitation services.
The launching ceremony of the redevelopment of Catherine Lo Centre was held on 29 March. Officiating at the ceremony were Mr Matthew Cheung, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Bureau and Mr Douglas So, Executive Director of Hong Kong Jockey Club. Upon completion in 2017, the 10-storey complex will benefit hundreds more of children, teenagers and their family members.
The launching ceremony of the redevelopment of Catherine Lo Centre was held on 29 March. Officiating at the ceremony were Mr Matthew Cheung, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Bureau and Mr Douglas So, Executive Director of Hong Kong Jockey Club. Upon completion in 2017, the 10-storey complex will benefit hundreds more of children, teenagers and their family members.

2013

In response to the mounting demand for services, the Society moved from its office at Tai Hang Tung Estate for over 20 years to G Tower at Naug Tau Kok. The expansion of Supportive Learning Project’s Tai Hang Tung Centre was completed with a sensory integration room, a Pre-school Training Unit and more individual assessment/ treatment rooms for various professionals to serve more children in the queue.
In April, the Society announced the findings of the ‘Survey on the Training Expenditure on Children with Autism’ and urged the government to adopt corresponding measures to relieve the psychological and financial pressure of the parents of autistic children.
The Society held the ‘50^th Anniversary Seminar on Autism: Recent Advances in Knowledge and Intervention’ in April. Internationally distinguished speakers were invited to share the latest research development and training strategies of autism with 600 participants. The Society also unveiled the first Hong Kong norms for evaluating the behaviours and development of autistic children and their normal counterparts, which add to the validity of the Revised Edition of the Chinese Psycho-educational Profile (Third Edition), making it more reliable than the U.S. edition in local application. On the same occasion, The Training Package for Autistic Children (New Edition)was launched by the Society to enhance the abilities of children with autism through a holistic approach.
A new advertising campaign was rolled out to promote understanding and acceptance of children with autism. The famous actor, Mr Chan Kam Hung, and his family gave their full support and made appearances in the advertisement, drawing overwhelming responses from the wider community. Roving exhibitions were held at a number of shopping malls to further deepen public understanding of autism.
The Society held the Golden Jubilee Charity Dinner at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, in May to celebrate its 50^th Anniversary and raise funds for the Children Training Fund to support the children with special needs coming from low-income families on the government waiting list for preschool training.
The Society published six Activity Guides for Pre-school Education to help teachers gain full understanding of the leaning basics and enhance the development of children, with or without developmental delay, in six core aspects through 3,300 daily activities. Three seminars were held to introduce the publications, attracting over 800 teachers and parents.
The Society published Workplace Stories of Autistic Youths, a collection of workplace stories shared by autistic youths, to deepen public understating of their characteristics, strengths and needs; and Hope Stories, the first local parent self-help booklet based on the hope theory with 13 real family stories, to help thousands of families overcome life challenges.
Based on the data collected from 997 children aged 3-8 in 2011-12, the Occupational Therapy Team established the norms of sensory processing and self-regulation performance of children in Hong Kong, and published The Sensory Processing and Self-regulation Checklist (SPSRC) and User Manual to facilitate occupational therapists to carry out assessment and formulate intervention for children in need.
Computer-aided intervention software developed by the Society won local and global awards. The I-Move-to-Learn game DVD developed by the physiotherapists of the Society beat 461 entries from 160 countries in the ‘World Summit Award 2013’ to win ‘The WSA Global Champion 2013’ in the ‘e-Health & Environment’ category. It was honoured for its innovative ways to help children with motor developmental problems. It was the first time this prestigious award went to a project from the Greater China Region. It also won the ‘Best Digital Inclusion (Product/ Application) Bronze Award’ in Hong Kong ICT Awards 2013 presented by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. The speech therapists of the Society launched the first iPad application ─LetSTalk. It was designed to help children with autism express their needs and integrate into the community, and awarded the ‘Best Digital Inclusion (Product / Application) Certificate of Merit’ in Hong Kong ICT Awards 2013 held by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. The Occupational Therapy Team also launched the first pre-writing training iPad application–The Pre-writing Fun Journey.The ‘Centre-based Support Scheme for Pre-school Children at-risk of Dyslexia’ of the ‘READ & WRITE: A Jockey Club Learning Support Network’ won Golden Award in the ‘2013 Best Practice Awards in Social Welfare’ presented by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service in recognition of its outstanding contribution towards building an inclusive community.
In collaboration with RTHK Radio 1, the Society launched the ‘Family Affairs: Supportive Learning’ series with 4 episodes to deliver positive parenting messages.
Under the sponsorship of Eu Yan Sang Charitable Foundation, the ‘Support Programme for Prospective Primary One Students with Autism’ was launched to help children and their parents better adapt to primary schools.

2012

The Society joined forces with ESF, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, The University of Hong Kong and The Child Development Centre to organise the 2012 Autism Summit in March. Autism Speaks and the experts of the World Health Organization were invited to discuss ideas on ‘Investing in our Future: The Economic Costs of Autism’. The Society presented the findings of the first survey on the stress level of the parents of children with autism in Hong Kong conducted in collaboration with The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The survey aroused public awareness.
The Society provided individual training to 300 children who received assistance from the ‘Training Subsidy for Children who are on the Waiting List of Subvented Pre-school Rehabilitation Services’ programme of The Community Care Fund at 24 service units in March.
The Honourable Mrs Carrie Lam, GBS, JP, Chief Secretary for Administration, led the Commission on Poverty to visit the Mary Wong Centre in August. Mrs Lam and the Commission met with the Chairperson and more than 20 members of the Heep Hong Parents’ Association to discuss the wishes and demands of the parents of children with special needs.
The Society’s family support project ‘Promoting Positive Life Attitudes among Families with Special Needs Children’ was honoured with the Silver Award in 2012 Asian Award for Advancing Family Well-Being in recognition of its innovative approach to support families with special needs children against life challenges. As part of our broader efforts to build thriving families, beginning in August, the Society implemented the one-year programme entitled 'Positive Family, Happy Life’ in 24 centres with sponsorship from Eu Yang Sang Charitable Foundation.
The Society opened 3 new service units. With sponsorship from the Manulife Charitable Foundation, the Society opened the Manulife Children’s Resources Cenntre in Lam Tin in May. The centre offers multiple services as part of the Supportive Learning Project. With the support from the Soroptimist International of Hong Kong, the Society refurbished a shop site in the Pak Tin Estate into a training unit for wait-listed children. In collaboration with the UMP Healthcare Group, the Society established the Jordan Child Health & Development Centre for the expansion of the Supportive Learning Project, providing psychological and speech therapy services for children with special needs. Together, the three new service units support 1,000 special needs children and their families a year.

2011

The Society collaborated with the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) in developing two academic programmes ─‘Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education (Special Educational Needs)’ and ‘Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education (Special Educational Needs)’ in September. Both programmes were recognised by the Social Welfare Department as equivalent to the one-year in-service course in special child care work. Graduates of the degree programmes will be considered as meeting the Education Bureau’s academic entry qualification for kindergarten principals. The Special Education Scholarship Fund, sponsored by ‘Joseph Lau Luen-hung Charitable Trust’, was set up to offer scholarship awards and practicum opportunities for in-service child workers as well as study awards for parent members of the Society.
The Society furthered the accomplished READ & WRITE project with another 3-year sponsorship by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Commencing in September 2011 to extend support to more pre-school children vulnerable to dyslexia. The Society was also funded by the Community Chest of Hong Kong to prepare pre-school students with specific learning difficulties for primary school life from September
After seven years of clinical experience, the DIR/Floortime research and development team published Enjoying Floortime: Social Interaction Training Package and conducted a workshop for nearly 400 special education teachers, therapists, social workers, psychologists and parents.
In March, the Society set up the Children Training Fund to marshal public donations with the goal of sustaining its social-communication, social adaptation and professional training services to deprived children with autism or other special needs.
Wan Tsui Centre in Chai Wan acquired a new wing of over 4,000 square feet in May and increased its training capacity by 24 children to 84. The centre served another 100 children on the waiting list through the Supportive Learning Project.
The Guide to Enhancing Children’s Self-care Abilities and The Finger Fun Activity Guide─134 Fine Motor Exercises for Children, were first of the parenting book series published in partnership with Sing Tao Publishing Ltd. The Society also developed the game CD-ROM The Wonderful Learning Tour, The Booklet on Easy Stretching and The Fun with Vocabulary Learning Series.
The Society delegated a multi-disciplinary team to the U.K. in November to learn about the application of the SCERTS Model. On the basis of TEACCH, the Society piloted the SCERTS Model at four centres and obtained remarkable results.

2010

The Society initiated the Support Programme for Children with Autism in the New Territories East to provide speech therapy for children, workshops and consultation services for parents. The programme was further rolled out to the New Territories West, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon regions to offer instant help to over 500 families of children with autism in Hong Kong.
The occupational therapist team, invited by the Macau Occupational Therapists Association, gave a workshop on the Hong Kong Preschool Fine Motor Developmental Assessment (HK-PFMDA) in Macau in January 2010 to help local practitioners enhance their understanding and application of the assessment tools.
Ms Kimberly Barthel, a highly acclaimed expert in neurodevelopment and sensory processing intervention from Canada, delivered two advanced courses on autism and sensory processing for over 100 therapists of the Society in April 2010.
Our Physiotherapist Team joined forces with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University to conduct research and found that Endermotherapy helps children with cerebral palsy and muscular developmental delay stretch their limbs to a larger degree with more prominent lasting effects and less pain compared with traditional methods.
The Physiotherapist Team joined hands with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to launch a subsidised support programme in five mainstream primary schools in September to provide early identification, training and education for students with motor coordination difficulties.
The Star Programme was launched in 12 primary and secondary schools in the New Territories East under the auspices of the Education Bureau and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. The three-year programme, encompassing group training, after-class activities and individual education plans for students with autism, and consultation and training services, is considered to be the most comprehensive project in support of autistic students in mainstream schools.

2009

The Society played host to a series of programmes, such as seminars, talks, workshops, courses, photo competition, and performance, in celebration of its 45th anniversary. The programmes met with enthusiastic responses from peer practitioners and parents with over 4,000 attendances recorded. In particular, the Children’s Talent Show & Arts Exhibition held in May got big rounds of applause from our officiating guest, Mr Stephen Fisher, Director of Social Welfare, and an audience of about 1,000 for the performances of more than 200 Heep Hong children and performing groups from both Hong Kong and the Mainland.
At a seminar held in April, the Society announced its research on preschool autistic children’s participation in social activities, the first of its kind in Hong Kong, and production of the Training Package for Social Adaptation of Autistic Children, which provides practical training strategies for caregivers to help autistic children adapt to the community.
The Society was authorized to publish the Chinese version of Psycho-educational Profile (Third Edition) with CD-ROM and Assessment Tools, and the package was firstly introduced at a seminar on the service development of autism in Chinese communities held in June.
Our Occupational Therapist Team conducted a research on the fine motor developmental assessment of local preschool children, and published the Hong Kong Preschool Children Fine Motor Developmental Assessment (HK-PFMDA) Examiner’s Manual, the first-ever standardized assessment based on the normative data from local children, for occupational therapists to carry out assessment on children aged up to six. Items were also extracted from the Manual to compile the Hong Kong Preschool Fine Motor Developmental Checklist for use by teachers and parents for free.
To promote integrated education, a series of seminars was held for parents and teachers in May and June. Participants were given complimentary copies of our latest series of books, namely Teaching & Learning of Autistic Children – Manual for Child-care Workers, The Guide to Enhance Autistic Children’s Communication Skills Step by Step (with CD-ROM), Peer Support for Autistic Children – Activity Manual, and Support for Parents of Autistic Children – Activity Manual for School (With CD-ROM). In addition, The Story Book: Making Friends with Autistic Peers was well received and a Simplified Chinese version was produced to enable children in the Mainland to better understand their autistic peers.
Other books about children development and training were published, including The Practical Guide to DIR®/FloortimeTM, The Introductory Guide to Relationship Developmental Intervention Program (RDI®), Training Strategies for Children with ADHD, and Oral-Motor Training Activity Book for Young Children, to help caregivers better grasp the skills in training their children.
Sponsored by the Quality Education Fund, the two-year ‘ADHD Holistic School-based Support Programme’ was launched in September in four primary schools. Our educational psychologist, occupational therapist and physiotherapist conducted group training for needy children and workshops for teachers and parents.
Two innovative teaching kits, READ & WRITE: Supporting Dyslexic Students─Parent Education CD-Rom and The Language Learning Package for Pre-Primary Children, were developed in support of children with dyslexia and their parents. A series of workshops and seminars were held to introduce the publications to target users and responses from peer practitioners and teachers were encouraging.
The Society took the initiative to provide ‘Support Services for Ethnic Minority Families of Children with Special Needs’ for a period of two years under the financial support of the Community Chest of Hong Kong. Raising Your Child: A Parents’ Guide to Early Childhood Development was published in English, Urdu and Nepali. The first-ever Nepali and Pakistani parent groups in town were set up. A Children Assessment Day and workshops were also hosted to help parents understand and identify the developmental needs of their children.
In November 2009, we organised our annual Train the Trainer Programme at the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai and attracted more than 100 local participants.

2008

Two seminars on 'Assisting Students with Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Integrating in Mainstream Education' were held in May & June 2008, which were attended by a total of 600 teachers and parents. To further enhance the concept of integration, the Society, upon the invitation of the Education Bureau, began to provide comprehensive educational psychological support service to 14 primary schools, which admitted students with special needs.
A number of books on the development and learning of children were published and well-received by parents and teachers. They included 'Assisting Autistic Children in Integrating in Mainstream Education', 'Milestones of Children's Development', 'Sensory Integrative Therapy' and 'Training in Language Comprehension for Young Children'.
In response to the growing population and escalating demands for services for children with special needs in Tseung Kwan O and East Kowloon, a new mixed-mode centre for pre-school children commenced operation in Yu Ming Court in June. It has a capacity for 94 children. In September, a Children's Learning & Research Centre was also set up in the Hong Kong Weaving Mills Association Education Centre where our professional team conducts research on children's learning needs and organizes relevant training programmes for children and their parents.
The Knowledge Management (KM) Portal was officially launched in May for the exchange of up-to-date rehabilitation information and training strategies among Heep Hong staff. Invited by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Heep Hong shared its successful experience in the development of KM among NGOs and received positive feedbacks.
Supported by MSIG Insurance, the Society launched the 'United for the Future – The Autistic Youth Work Experience' programme to provide pre-employment training workshops for autistic young people aged 16 and above, with short term placement opportunities following the workshops. A press conference was held in November to announce the findings of a survey of the employment conditions of persons with autistic disorder and the details of the said programme.

2007

Two training workshops were organized for 100 practitioners in the Greater China Region on Autism and Sensory Integration in March and July respectively. Heep Hong's senior management and training staff were also invited to share their experience with their counterparts in Taiwan and the Mainland.
In collaboration with the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences of the University of Hong Kong, a peer conference was held in May to announce the results of the joint project of 'Accelerate Reading Abilities of P 1 and P 2 Students' sponsored by the Quality Education Fund. It aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a theory-based treatment programme for children with developmental reading difficulties.
Funded by Melco International, a special project for over 100 children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was launched in July. Children were screened by psychologists and therapists for tailor-made training programmes. Their parents and teachers were also equipped with the skills and knowledge for coaching at home and schools.
A grading and pay structure review for Heep Hong staff was launched with the aim to maintain a stable work force and to ensure a high quality of performance. Staff members were consulted throughout the process and their views had been incorporated in the revised structure which is competitive in the labour market.
A parent satisfaction survey on our SCCC and EETC services was conducted in July. The response rate exceeded 80%. The initial findings indicated that most parents were highly satisfied with the service their children received. Rating on both the above-mentioned services was 8.5 on a 10 point scale. The respondents also complimented the staff for their passion, professionalism and dedication to children.
In association with the 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Guangzhou Disabled People's Federation (Guangzhou Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)), the First Guangzhou International Forum on ASD, was held in November. About 400 people participated and it was followed by a three-day training workshop conducted by staff of the Heep Hong Society for over 120 Mainland practitioners.

2006

Heep Hong's Executive Committee was conferred with the 'Director of the Year Awards 2006'(Statutory / Non-profit distributing Organisations Executive Directors) by The Hong Kong Institute of Directors in recognition of our good corporate governance.
With the sponsorship from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, two permanent bases for the Supportive Learning Project were established and renovated at Tai Po Road's Prince Centre and Tai Hang Tung Estate respectively.
Heep Hong joined hands with The University of Hong Kong, the Education and Manpower Bureau, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Society of Boys' Centres in a pioneer project entitled 'Read and Write: A Jockey Club Learning Support Network' to help children with dyslexia. Our professional team was responsible to carry out a 3-year study in developing an all-round district-based support network.
With the generous support of donors and the Government's Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged, 10 Sensory Integrative (SI) Rooms were installed in 2006. By year end, there have been 13 SI Rooms set up in Heep Hong's centres.
A series of publications were released which included the 40th Anniversary commemorative book entitled In Pursuit of Excellence: Advances and Practices in Children's Rehabilitation Services, Developmental Learning Package - Curriculum Guide and Developmental Assessment Chart (Revised), Applying the TEACCH Approach for Autistic Children: Teachers'/Parents' Manual and Adversity Quotient (AQ) Training Package. Several seminars were organised to promote these publications with good results.

2005

The fourth mixed mode centre, located at Hoi Fu Court, Mongkok, was opened in July by Dr. York Chow, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food. Featuring 'Vibrant Garden' as its theme, the centre is equipped with a range of innovative facilities such as a Multi-media Training Room which is the first of it kinds in a pre-school setting in the territory, and a parent-child kitchen.
A monthly Donors' Programme was launched to generate stable income for Heep Hong Society.
The Ma On Shan Centre was opened in early July to offer diversified support services for families with special needs children. The Centre promotes the concept of an inclusive community by working closing with different organizations in the district. With the financial support of the Lotteries Fund in fitting-out works and the purchase of training equipment, the Centre adopts a "train" as its design theme.
2005 Charity Walk cum Sports Day was held.
A research on the Developmental Coordination Disorders (DCD) of primary one school children was carried out with the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and a press conference was held in January.
A series of professional seminars for practitioners and training courses for parents was introduced.

2004

A series of programmes was organized to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Heep Hong including an international conference, a mass media promotion campaign, a joint graduation of all Special Child Centres, a 40th anniversary logo design competition and an outstanding carer award.
A new mixed-mode centre incorporating an Early Education and Training Centre, a Special Child Care Centre and a Parents Resource Centre was set up at Tung Chung.
The first 'Articulation Training Kit' in Cantonese in Hong Kong was published by Heep Hong.
A joint rehabilitation network was established with the Hong Kong Medical Association, aimed at helping medical practitioners identify and refer special needs children for treatment at an early stage.
A series of courses on Sensory Integrative Therapy for teachers and parents was introduced.
Child Rehab Portal, the first website in Hong Kong providing a pool of rich and comprehensive information on rehabilitation of special needs children, was launched by Heep Hong.
The Service Management Information System was implemented to leverage on information technology to improve the operation and services of the Society.
The honorable Mr Donald Tsang, Chief Secretary for Administration, and Mrs Tsang attended a charity concert organized by the Hong Kong Austrian Association for raising funds for Heep Hong.

2003

Heep Hong pioneered the operation of a mixed-mode centre in Fu Cheong Estate in Cheung Sha Wan for providing the services of Early Education and Training Centre and Special Child Care Centre.
A pamphlet concerning children's writing difficulties was issued.

2002

The first Regional Flag Day of Heep Hong was held on April 27.
Heep Hong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong jointly carried out a research on the bullying among school children in April and May, and a press conference of it was held at the University on June 12.
The Social Welfare Department approved a grant of some HK$3.2 million for forming Junior Gateway Clubs in 11 Special Child Care Centres for three years. A launching ceremony was held on July 7 at Po Kong Village Road Indoor Games Hall, and Mrs Carrie Lam, JP, Director of Social Welfare, was invited to be the officiating guest. More than 500 children and their family members attended the ceremony.
A Heep Hong's staff was invited to deliver a speech at the '2002 International Conference on Infants and Toddlers with Developmental Delay' in Taiwan in July.
With the sponsorship of the Friends of Hope Education Fund Limited, Heep Hong cooperated with the 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University to introduce the TEACCH programme in Guangzhou.
The Social Welfare Department supported Heep Hong to provide speech therapy service in all of its Early Education and Training Centres.

2001

Heep Hong signed an agreement with Shanghai Children’s Welfare Institution on providing consultation on the development of its rehabilitation services, as well as providing professional training for its staff. A full-time occupational therapist of Heep Hong was sent to the Institution for nine months to provide such services. This was the first time that the Chinese government committed to purchase professional welfare services from a non-government organization in Hong Kong to their social welfare institution.
With the generous donation of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, Jockey Club Parents Resource Centre at Wanchai was reprovisioned to Oi Tung Estate (Shau Kei Wan). Mr William Yiu, Secretary of Jockey Club Charities Trust, and Ms Ophelia Chan, Assistant Director (Rehabilitation & Medical) of Social Welfare Department, officiated at the opening ceremony of the new centre.
Multi-sensory rooms were set up at nine Special Child Care Centres, as well as play therapy rooms were equipped in two Early Education and Training Centres and two Parents Resource Centres for children's training.
Tai Po Parents Resource Centre changed its name to Fanling Parents Resource Centre when it moved to Cheung Wah Estate (Fanling).
Heep Hong organized two open seminars on 'TEACCH Structured Teaching: an effective training approach on learning and independency of autistic children' in December, and they were well received by over 650 participants. A press conference was held on December 12 to announce the result of a two years’ research on the subject.
The first Charity Walk and Christmas Carnival cum the Inauguration of Heep Hong Parents Association were held on December 23 at Hong Kong Sports Institute. Over 3,500 people participated in it.
Speech therapy service was introduced in all Early Education and Training Centres with the sponsorship of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
The course on TEACCH for the Training of Autistic Children was firstly held for practitioners from the Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

2000

A team of professional staff was invited to conduct a workshop on the usage of the 'Developmental Learning Package' and 'Child Development Guide' in Taipei and Tainan. Over 500 participants attended the workshops.
Dr Rosanna Wong, JP, Chairman of Hong Kong Housing Authority, officiated at the opening ceremony of Shui Pin Wai Special Child Care Centre.
Openings of Cheung Sha Wan and Tseung Kwan O Centres in April. The two centres were reprovisioned and split from the old Portland Street Centre. An open day of Cheung Sha Wan Centre and an official opening ceremony of the John Ellis Room, its multi-sensory room sponsored by The Sunnyside Club, were held in late November. Tseung Kwan O Centre was officially opened by Mrs Carrie Lam, JP, Director of Social Welfare, in December and renamed as Chan Chung Hon Centre.
An Assistant Director of Heep Hong was invited to be a keynote speaker at a Conference on the Early Intervention Programme for Children with Special Needs in Taipei, Taiwan in June.
The Director of Heep Hong was invited by Dr Derong Shi, the Director of Civil Affairs of Shanghai, in July, to lead a team of professional staff to visit Shanghai Children’s Welfare Institution and discuss the possibility of future cooperation.
The revision of Developmental Assessment Chart (DAC) of 'Developmental Learning Package' began in September with the sponsorship of the Quality Education Fund.
Launched a self-financed service, 'Supportive Learning Project (SLP)', to provide timely intervention to special needs children. School based service was available to both special schools and ordinary primary schools.
With the sponsorship of The Hong Kong Golf Club, a half-time speech therapist was employed to provide group speech training service for the children in Jockey Club Early Education and Training Centre (EETC). This was the first time that a speech therapist was employed to provide EETC service.
The service capacity of the Preparation Programme on Primary One School Adjustment for Special Needs Children was increased and a comprehensive resource kit was introduced through the support of the Quality Education Fund.
Heep Hong joined the Lump Sum Grant Subvention of the Social Welfare Department.
The 10th Great Chefs was held at the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong.