Parents of mentally disabled kids are strugglingMore support for carers urged

A LAWMAKER has called for more government support for mentally disabled children and their carers.

Civic Party () legislator Kwok Ka-ki () said such children have to wait an average of seven years for hostel places and four years for spots at activity day centres.

Kwok said that hostel places are desper-ately needed. He added the governments promise to provide 17,000 places in hostels and day-care centres for the elderly and disabled within 10 years would not be enough to meet current needs.

A lot of these parents had to quit their job because their child needs 24/7 care. They cant

afford to leave the child alone for one hour, Kwok said.

A father, surnamed Wong, whose nine-year-old son is autistic and moderately men-tally disabled, said he quit his job to care for the child as he might fl ood the fl at if hes alone for a minute.

Wong said teaching a mentally disabled child is extremely diffi cult and that the public does not understand mental disability.

People show disgust when I take my son out. It is not easy to bear, he said.

Kwok said that while such children do not have suffi cient care, their parents or carers also face emotional problems.

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Some children with mental health problems have to wait up to seven years for hostel places. (Internet)

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The government has been told to provide more support for mentally disabled children and their carers. Legislator Kwok Ka-ki said these children have to wait an average of seven years for hostel places. Their parents often have to quit their jobs so that they can look after them. The carers also face emotional problems because it is very difficult to teach such children while the public does not show understanding towards mental disability.

Key Idea

P03 Text : Anvil Ong Photos : Internet, Sing Tao Daily

Choose the best answer:1M: someone who takes care of a person who is

young, old or sick

E: Carers need a lot of support and encouragement from people around them.

E: The old man is in need of a full-time carer.

carer (n)

2M: a place where people who have no homes can

stay

E: He has been staying at a homeless hostel for several years.

E: Hong Kong is in need of more hostels for the mentally disabled.

hostel (n)

3M: extremely or very much

E: He is desperately ill.

E: The kids were not desperately keen on basketball.

desperately (adv)

4M: be able to do something without causing

serious problems for oneself

E: We cannot afford to anger the teacher.

E: I cannot afford to make any mistakes in the experiment.

afford (v)

M: fairly but not very

E: The history test was moderately diffi cult.

E: Goods in the supermarket are moderately priced.

moderately (adv) 6

5M: having a mental condition that prevents

development of social and communication skills to the usual level

E: Autistic children need a lot of care and attention.

E: We should organise a support group for parents of autistic children.

autistic (adj)

7M: a very strong feeling of dislike

E: To his disgust, he was fi ned for spitting in the streets.

E: His face turned red in disgust.

disgust (n)

Vocabulary Reading ComprehensionM : Meaning E : Example

Answers on P12

Monday 17 March 2014

LS in a nutshell Learning Card

the Social Welfare Department

Which government department is responsible for providing various support services for mentally disabled persons?

Name: Kwok Ka-ki ()

Title: Civic Party () legislator

Highlights: The legislator has asked the government to provide more support for mentally disabled children and their carers.

Quote: They are desperately in need.

People

1. Why do some parents of autistic children need to quit their jobs?

A. their children want companyB. their children need constant care C. their children are very naughtyD. parents get too tired

2. The public _____ mental disability.

A. understandsB. is ignorant aboutC. is angry about D. does not understand

3. Part of the pressure on parents with autistic children comes from _____.

A. school activitiesB. sportsC. extracurricular activitiesD. the publics attitude

4. How long does a child have to wait for a hostel place on average?

A. fi ve yearsB. six yearsC. seven years D. eight years

5. The hospital is calling _____ more donations.

A. byB. forC. toD. no word is needed

6. There is _____ for hostel places for mentally disabled children.

A. needB. demandC. requirementD. enough

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