Service Introduction

In 1979, a pioneer scheme "Infant Stimulation and Parent Effectiveness Training Project" was set up to provide innovative assessment, intervention, training and support to infants and children with developmental delay and their families who are in need. The success and effectiveness of this scheme was recognised by the government. In 1985, the government subsidised our first Early Education and Training Centre to provide subvented preschool rehabilitation service and the "Infant Stimulation and Parent Effectiveness Training Service (ISP)" was formally established. By January 2019, this scheme was renamed to "Child Rehabilitation Service" after the organisation restructuring. ISP has continued to expand various kinds of preschool children's rehabilitation services funded by the Social Welfare Department (SWD). Our current services include 2 Parent Resource Centres, 6 On-site Preschool Rehabilitation Services, 5 Early Education and Training Centres, 1 Special Child Care Centre, 1 Special Child Care Centre-cum-Early Education and Training Centre, 2 District-based Speech Therapy Teams and 12 units of Integrated Programme in Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres.

In 2005, in view of the large number of children waiting for preschool rehabilitation services in the community, we set up a self-financing "Project Bridge for Children's Development" programme to prevent children from missing their golden development age of 0-6. Our main focus is to provide training and treatment for children with special needs and their families.

Our service started participating in the Community Care Fund's "Training Subsidy Programme for Children on the Waiting List of Subvented Pre-school Rehabilitation Services" in 2012. Since the regularisation of the programme by the SWD in October 2014, we have continued to provide basic training and treatment services to special needs children from low-income families who are on the waiting list for preschool rehabilitation services. 

In 2013, we launched the "Arts Development Fund for Children with Special Needs" aiming to promote art development for children with special needs. Through provision of art activities, subsidies, and parents and public education, we foster artistic inclusion in society.

From December 2015 onwards, our service received a grant from the Lotteries Fund for the "Pilot Scheme of On-site Preschool Rehabilitation Services". The Government has regularised the Tier 1 Support Services and integrated them with OPRS since September 2023. At present, our service operates 6 teams, named as "Bridge-Integrated Education Service". Our teams offer comprehensive and timely assistance to pre‑school children with different levels of special needs through inter-disciplinary service teams under a school-based and integrated approach.

At present, our service provides more than 3,000 preschool rehabilitation places subsidised by the SWD. There are also more than 100 kindergartens and kindergarten-cum-child care centres partnering with us.

Service Objectives

• To promote holistic development in children with special needs in terms of physical fitness, fine motor skills, cognition, language, self-care and social interaction, and also inspire the potential of children;
• To teach parents to make good use of different methods, environments and daily life to foster the overall growth and development of their children;
• To assist parents to accept the developmental and learning needs of their children through counselling and parenting education and to manage their stress and challenges of daily life;
• To develop teachers' ability to identify and nurture children with special needs through outreaching, collaborative efforts with schools;
• To consolidate parents' strength to raise concerns about child-related policies in order to strive for their welfare and rights.

Service Features

Transdisciplinary Collaborative Model

The team is composed of educational psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, social workers, special child care workers, nurses, music therapy and other professionals.

Professional Consultant Support

Professional advice are provided by senior pediatricians, psychiatrists, senior educational psychologists and senior clinical psychologists; university professors of rehabilitation science, speech and hearing sciences, social work and applied social sciences, etc.

Encourage Parental Involvement

Parents are encouraged to attend children's training sessions for equipping training skills. Besides, through educational seminars and sharing groups, parents can understand the developmental needs and training content of their children and share their parenting experiences.

Mutual Aid Network for Parents

The "Chih Ai Parents' Association" is an inter-centres parent organisation which was established in 1982. In addition to promoting mutual support and interaction among parents, it also keeps abreast of policies and service development related to children with special needs.