Introduction

The government funded our first Early Education and Training Centre in 1985. To date, we have 5 centres and a total of 461 training places.

Belief

We are convinced that early nurturing and training will allow children to achieve their best potential. Conjoint effort by parents and professionals can enhance the quality of life and development of infants and toddlers with special needs effectively. We are determined to build an inclusive society full of love and hope so that every child who has special needs can be well cultivated.

Purpose

Promote holistic development of children and the full functioning of families by adopting transdisciplinary and systematic training, with a view to foster parents nurture their children with special needs effectively.

Objectives

Provide diversified education and training services for children. At the same time, we teach parents to make good use of different methods, environments and daily life to help their children fully develop their physical fitness, fine motor skills, cognition, language, self-care and social emotions.

Through counselling and parenting education services, we help parents understand and accept the developmental and learning needs of children as well as manage their stress and difficulties in life.

Target Service Users

Infants and preschoolers aged 0-6 who are with special needs or at risk of developmental delay, as well as their parents.

Application Procedure

Children who need to apply for service may be placed on the waiting list of the Social Welfare Department's (SWD) "Central Referral System for Rehabilitation Services" by referral from Maternal and Child Health Centres, Child Assessment Centres, Integrated Family Service Centres, medical social workers, pediatricians or psychologists. Upon receipt of admission notice from the SWD, our centre will inform parents for processing enrolment procedures.

Withdrawal Procedure

If parents choose to withdraw the services on their own, they must notify the centre in writing and complete the related procedures 1 month in advance.

In addition, we will terminate the provision of services to children under the following circumstances:

• The child reaches the first 1st September after attaining the age of 6
• The child promotes to Primary School
• The child's overall ability is now consistent with the developmental stage of his/her age
• The child decides to use other types of SWD-funded preschool rehabilitation placements

Scope of Services

Assessment of Child development and training progress

Children must undergo developmental assessment after enrollment. Based on the assessment results, individual training plans and curriculum are tailor-made and periodic review assessments will be conducted every 6 months.

Individual and group training and therapy

Various kinds of training and therapeutic sessions are provided according to the assessment results and individual training plans, which include cognitive training, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and play therapy. Targeted developmental aspects include gross motor, fine motor, language, cognition, social emotions, self-care and executive functions.

Individual or family counselling and support

We place high concern on needs of families and provide appropriate services to enable families to function properly. Our services include individual and family counselling, parent groups, educational seminars, introduction of community resource and referral for services.

Borrowing of books, toys and equipment/special aids

We assist parents to train their children at home and improve discipline through our borrowing service. We also guide parents to select suitable toys for children to promote the cognitive, mental and physical development of children and at the same time regain parenting pleasure.

Service Features

Transdisciplinary Collaborative Model

Our team consists of educational psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, social workers and special child care workers.

Professional Consultant Support

Periodic advice from senior pediatricians, educational psychologists and 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 that was established in 1982. In addition to promoting mutual support and contact among parents, it also keeps watch on policies and service development related to children with special needs.

Fees

Fees are set according to our agency's policies and approved by the Social Welfare Department (SWD). Please contact our centres for details.