The Hong Kong Society for the Blind

Annual Report 2017/18

Building an Inclusive Society with Innovation & Technology 

 

Vision

To provide services to help maximize the capabilities of the visually impaired, facilitate their equal participation in society and improve their quality of life with a view to achieving a harmonious and inclusive society.

Patrons and Council Members

Patron

The Honourable Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor GBM, GBS

The Chief Executive Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

 

Vice-Patrons

Mrs Marjorie Bray 

Dr Bessie Chiang 

Mrs Helen Kwok 

Professor Dennis S C Lam 

Mr Clive Oxley, OBE, ED 

Professor C K Poon, OBE, GBS, JP

 

Council Members 2017/18 (As at 31 March 2018)

 

Chairman

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

 

Vice-Chairman

Mr Michael Szeto Chak Wah

 

Hon Treasurer

Mr Patrick Ng Wing Hang

 

Hon Legal Adviser

Mr Peter Chan Kin Sang

 

Hon Medical Adviser

Dr Kenneth Li Kai Wang

 

Members

Ms Fianna Chi Tan Ning

Mr Chong Chan Yau

Mr Samuel Fung Pak Sun (since Feb 2018)

Ms Christina Fung Sau Man (since Dec 2017)

Ms Winnie Kong Lai Wan

Dr Vincent Kwan Pun Fong

Mr Lawrence Lai Man Leung (until Dec 2017)

Ms Ida Lam Choi Chu

Mr Lam Wai Pong

Mr Man Hong Lim (until Feb 2018)

Mr Tang Kwong Po

Dr Nancy Yuen Shi Yin

Dr Alice Yuk Tak Fun

 

Co-opted Members

Mr Peter Lam Chung Yun

Mr Benson Lo Tak Wing

 

Ex-officio Member

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

(Chief Executive)

 

Committees (As at 31 March 2018)

Audit Committee

 

Chairman

Ms Winnie Kong Lai Wan

 

Members

Ms Christina Fung Sau Man

Mr Lawrence Lai Man Leung (until Dec 2017)

Mr Paul A Moore

Ms Peggie Wong Yuk Yue

 

Ex-officio Members

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

 

Staff Representative

Ms Katherine Szeto Dick Ka

(Internal Auditor)

 

Eye Care & Vocational Services Committee

 

Chairman

Dr Kenneth Li Kai Wang

 

Members

Dr Hui Siu Ping

Mr Joseph Kwan Kwok Lok

Prof Kenneth Sin Kuen Fung

Mr Yan Wa Tat

Dr Nancy Yuen Shi Yin

 

Ex-officio Members

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

 

Staff Representative

Mr Joseph Cho Chun Wah

(Director, Clinical & Vocational Services)

 

Factory Management Committee

Chairman

Mr Michael Szeto Chak Wah (since Dec 2017)

Mr Lawrence Lai Man Leung (until Dec 2017)

 

Members

Ms Christina Fung Sau Man

Ms Winnie Kong Lai Wan

Mr Michael Szeto Chak Wah

 

Ex-officio Members

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

 

Staff Representatives

Mr Joseph Cho Chun Wah

(Director, Clinical & Vocational Services)

Mr Sean Fong 

(Factory Manager)

 

Factory Site Redevelopment Committee

 

Chairman

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

 

Members

Mr Chong Chan Yau

Ms Ida Lam Choi Chu

Mr Lam Wai Pong

Mr Kwan Kwok Lok (since June 2017)

Mr Patrick Ng Wing Hang

Mr Philip Tso Wai Pong (since June 2017)

 

Ex-officio Member

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

 

Finance & Administration Committee

 

Chairman

Mr Patrick Ng Wing Hang

 

Members

Mr Eoin D Kelly

Mr Hugh C Kerridge

Dr Vincent Kwan Pun Fong

Mr Peter Lam Chung Yun

Mr Philip Tso Wai Pong

 

Ex-officio Members

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

 

Staff Representatives

Mr Edwin Ng Chi Hei (since Jan 2018)

(Chief Financial Officer)

Ms Kany Wong Kan Ying (until Jan 2018)

(Director, Finance & Business Development)

Ms Fannie Wong Siu Fun

(Director, Human Resources & Administration)

 

Rehabilitation Services Committee

 

Chairman

Ms Ida Lam Choi Chu

 

Members

Mr Jason Ho Ka Leung

Ms Virginia Pak Lai Sheung

Mr Tsang Kin Ping

 

Ex-officio Members

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

 

Staff Representative

Ms Amy Cheng Mi Bing

(Director, Rehabilitation Services)

 

Residential Services Committee

 

Chairman

Mr Lam Wai Pong

 

Members

Ms Shirley Cheung Yuet Mei

Dr Ho Chi Kin

Mr Benson Lo Tak Wing

Mr Tang Kwong Po

Ms Amy Tso Lei Lei

 

Ex-officio Members

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

 

Staff Representative

Ms Doreen Mui Siu Ping

(Director, Residential Services)

Publicity &  Fund-Raising Committee

 

Chairman

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

 

Members

Ms Winnie Kong Lai Wan

Mr Lawrence Lai Man Leung (until Dec 2017)

Mr Lam Wai Pong

Mr Patrick Ng Wing Hang

Mr Benson Lo Tak Wing

 

Ex-officio Member

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

 

Yuen Long Home Redevelopment Committee

 

Chairman

Mr Lam Wai Pong

 

Members

Dr Ho Chi Kin

Mr Patrick Ng Wing Hang

 

Project Consultants

 

Architect

Professor Patrick Lau Sau Shing

 

Quantity Surveyor

Mr Anderson Chan Man Hong

 

Structural Engineer

Mr Ng Kam Tong

 

E & M Consultant

Mr Raymond Tam Kit Man

 

Project Management Team

Mr Kelvin Wong Wai Hin

 

Ex-officio Members

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

 

Other Committees (As at 31 March 2018)

 

Centralised Braille Production Centre Steering Committee

 

Chairman

Ms Amy Cheng Mi Bing

(Director, Rehabilitation Services)

 

Vice-Chairman

Mr Lai Chi Chiu

(Ebenezer School)

 

Members

Ms Chiu Chi Wun

(Hong Kong Blind Union)

Ms Fung Hang Foon

(Ebenezer School)

Mr Jason Ho Ka Leung

(Hong Kong Blind Union)

Ms Kammy Ng Ka Wing

(Special Education Support Section 1, Education Bureau)

Mr Siu Siu Hong (Ebenezer School)

Mr Raymond Tang Ming Yin

(Special Education Support Section 1, Education Bureau)

Ms Joby Wong Tsz Sin

(Hong Kong Blind Union)

 

Observer

Mr Billy Cheung Man Leung 

(Parent Representative, Ebenezer School Parent and Staff Association)

 

Staff Representatives

Ms Emily Chan Lai Yee

(Manager, Information Accessibility Centre)

Ms Lynda Chung Kin Mui

(Supervisor, Centralised Braille Production Centre)

Ms Rosa Ng Tin Yu

(Assistant Supervisor, Centralised Braille Production Centre)

 

Information Accessibility Centre Users’ Committee

 

Chairman

Ms Amy Cheng Mi Bing

(Director, Rehabilitation Services)

 

Members

Mr Kwan Chi Wai

Mr Terry Lau Shiu Cheong

Mr Lo Keng Chi

Mr Mak Ping Man

Mr Yam Pok Fai

 

Staff Representatives

Ms Emily Chan Lai Yee

(Manager, Information Accessibility Centre)

Ms Chung Fung Kam

(Senior Library Assistant, Information Accessibility Centre)

Ms Choi Ling Yam

(Assistant Librarian, Information Accessibility Centre)

 

Deafblind Rehabilitation Programme Advisory Committee

 

Chairman

Ms Amy Tso Lei Lei

 

Members

Ms Chan Mei Ling

(The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf)

Ms Choi Lui Yin

(Mental Health Association of Hong Kong Cornwall School)

Ms Chung Suk Han (until Aug 2017)

(Caritas Jockey Club Lok Yan School)

Ms Chrysan Mok Oi Ling (since Sep 2017)

Ms Wong Tin Ling

(Ebenezer New Hope School)

 

Staff Representatives

Ms Doreen Mui Siu Ping

(Director, Residential Services)

Ms Cansy Li Po Ling

(Superintendent, Morning Glory Day Activity Centre cum Hostel)

Ms Cheung Siu Fan (until Nov 2017)

(Social Worker, Rehabilitation Centre)

Ms Andria Cheung Wing Yan

(Deafblind Programme Officer, Resource Centre for the Deafblind)

 

Family Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired Advisory Committee

Chairman

Mr Edward Kwok Ho Lai

 

Members

Prof Kenneth Sin Kuen Fung

Mrs Ellen Yip Ng So Yue

Ms Amy Tso Lei Lei (since June 2017)

 

Staff Representatives

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

(Chief Executive)

Mr Joseph Cho Chun Wah

(Director, Clinical & Vocational Services)

Ms Amy Cheng Mi Bing

(Director, Rehabilitation Services)

Ms Penelope Yeung Ho Yan        

(Supervisor, Family Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired)

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Chairman’s Foreword

In the light of the technological development in the 21st century, The Hong Kong Society for the Blind (HKSB) has moved to a new platform. We utilize new technology to improve our services with a view to achieving an inclusive society.

 

In the new Jockey Club Yan Hong Building, innovative technology has been widely adopted to establish a barrier-free smart home for the visually impaired residents. The main arrangements include installation at the door of each room a PC Tablet and utilizing Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to allow residents, by touching the screen with their hand straps, be informed by voice messages the location of the rooms, meal menu and activities of the day. Our staff can also use the system to accurately record and manage daily care of the residents. Medication service has been computerized to help our staff comply with the safety rules and procedures in preparing, verifying and distributing medicines. On the dementia care floor, there are two training rooms utilizing applied technology to allow residents with dementia to receive advanced cognitive training. These include a mental perception training computer with a 55-inch multi-touch screen and an 80-inch TV for physical training programme. On the floor for frail elderly requiring high level of care, in pursuit of the concept of “Zero lifting”, ceiling hoist and mobile bathing units have been installed.

 

During the Gerontech & Innovation Expo cum Summit held in June 2017, HKSB was invited to share our experience of using innovative technology in the provision of services in Jockey Club Yan Hong Building, the services and products provided by Barrier Free Access (HK) Limited, and the Community Based Rehabilitation Services for Elderly Person with Low Vision. We hosted three workshops, namely “A person-centered approach of smart living in elderly homes”, “Application of RFID smart cane” and “Application of VR on rehabilitation training”. 

 

With the support of the Social Welfare Development Fund and for the purpose of bringing HKSB up-to-date on utilization of innovative technology in provision of services, 12 staff members went to Japan in November 2017 for a study tour. They visited residential care services and saw the service models and facilities for caring elderly with dementia and visual impairment, including use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Of particular relevance are extensive use of tactile cues, appropriate care equipment and therapies for clients with dementia and aggressive behaviours.

 

“Life Review Project for Aged Blind” commenced in June 2017 with the support of Drs Richard Charles & Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation. Nine young visually impaired writers were recruited to interview 50 aged blind residents in our four aged blind homes and write up their life stories. We aim to complete the Project in January 2019.

 

We are grateful to L’OCCITANE Foundation for supporting the General Eye and Low Vision Centre to provide free vision assessment to over 2,500 kindergarten students in 2017/18. Three eye care talks were organized for their parents and teachers to raise their awareness of the importance of eye care and early detection at young age.

 

Our Flag Day 2018 was held successfully on 10 March 2018. We are thankful to the support of more than 150 organizations and companies and over 6,000 volunteers. A sum close to HK$2,400,000 was raised.

 

HKSB has been established for 62 years. We developed from providing vocational training to clients with visual impairment in the early days to making use of innovative technology in the provision of comprehensive rehabilitation services in the present days.  On behalf of HKSB, I would like to thank various government departments, charitable foundations, corporates, donors, volunteers and partner organizations for their unfailing support over the years. I must thank all Council and Committee members for their expert advice and support in our development. I would also like to thank our Chief Executive and all staff members for their hard work and initiatives to keep abreast of the latest technological development for upgrading the quality of our services.

 

HKSB will keep in pace with the development in the community to provide comprehensive and diversified services to help maximize the capabilities of people with visual impairment, improve their quality of life and facilitate their equal participation in the society so as to achieve a harmonious and inclusive society.

 

Nancy Law

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Chief Executive’s Report

 

Riding on the theme of Building an Inclusive Society with Innovation and Technology, we embarked on a number of new projects that made good use of “Smart Technologies”. “Smart” technologies that integrate information technology with assistive technologies has opened up new platform to develop practical and individualized tools to assist people with disabilities to meet their needs. The use of technology to remove or alleviate some of the limitations that brought forth due to disability, has helped people with disabilities to meet with the various challenges and enhance their quality of living in the community.

 

A joint partnership programme with the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre of the Innovation & Technology Commission to develop a Smart Cane Navigation System by leveraging on the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology had been completed in Nov 2017. Our Barrier Free Access (HK) Limited (BFAHK) made an investment for the joint venture and upon completion, BFAHK was given the right to capitalize the system in the open market with an aim to foster indoor navigation of the visually impaired.  The new system was named: Equal Access System. The use of RFID Smart Cane in navigation has to go with a mobile app on smart phones. A different Orientation & Mobility Training programme for the visually impaired is thus required. To make the system more user friendly, we planned to solicit support from corporates to try out the system in shopping arcades, and to carry out a pioneer and adapted Orientation and Mobility Training for the visually impaired university students to move around inside the campus with a new navigation system.

 

Smartphones have becoming an indispensable device in our everyday life. With advanced technical development, most of the smart phones have built in voice synthesizer. By tapping the screen, visually impaired users would be able to activate the different icons and apps on the screen to obtain information they need or communicate with other phone users. To facilitate blind users to enjoy the convenience of smart phones just the same as their sighted counterparts, use of smart phones had been incorporated into the syllabus of Techniques of Daily Living. The use of iPhones with MacBook was included in the Computer Training programme of our Rehabilitation Centre since September 2017.

 

Another new technology development that we had been leveraging is Virtual Reality (VR). Virtual Reality technology produces an interactive experience to users by putting them in the computer-generated environment. It offers a cost-effective tool to study and replicate interactions in a controlled environment, and provides learners with a virtual environment where they can develop their skills without the real-world consequences of failing. Starting from 2017, our aged blind demented residents had been given some simple life experience and playing games through wearing VR headsets for cognitive training. VR technology had been tried out in our rehabilitation training programme for the intellectually disabled trainees with visual impairment. By collecting data for an in-depth study, the Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist of the Morning Glory DAC cum Hostel would work out tailor made rehabilitation programme for individual service users in the coming year.

 

For internal administration, we made good use of the Social Welfare Development Fund in Phase 3 to develop a Client Information System for the Rehabilitation Centre to draw up individual training plan and enhance case management for its trainees. Meanwhile, the Oracle Financial Management System which had been in use for quite some years was found not meeting new user requirements for efficient financial management and control. Apart from maintaining day-to-day accounting transactions of the agency, making available periodical financial reports for review by the management, the new financial management system shall include add-on modules that facilitate purchase requisition, cost allocation, budgeting and financial forecast. 

 

The annual fixed asset check has been done by physical counting which is time consuming and labour intensive. To make good use of the technology available in the market, a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Asset Management System will be developed to improve efficiency. Asset check will be conducted by using RFID scanner. The subsequent data analysis help to generate reports of missing assets or misplacement of assets for prompt rectification by the management.

 

To meet with increasing demand for real time data transfer when the different computer systems are in use at the same time, it is necessary to upgrade the current IT Networking Infrastructure of our premises. In this connection, new network cables will be installed to achieve better connectivity.

 

To reap the benefit of mobile technology, a lot can be done to develop new service programmes by making good use of real time data transmission. The Hong Kong Society for the Blind shall continue to keep an eye on the latest technology development and innovative designs applicable to improve the outcome of rehabilitation programme for our service users and most important of all their quality of living and social inclusion.

 

Maureen Tam

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Highlights of R&D and Technology Application Video  2017/18

Highlights of Events and Achievements

Flag Day 2018

10th March 2018

The Flag Day 2018 was held successfully on 10 March 2018, thanks for the support and participation of all organizations, companies and volunteers. There were around 6,200 volunteers participated, which included 151 organizations and companies. A total of over HK$2,400,000 was raised to support services for the visually impaired.

 

L’OCCITANE Vision Screening for Kindergarten Students

Sponsored by L’OCCITANE Foundation, the General Eye and Low Vision Centre of HKSB sent a mobile vision screening bus to provide free vision assessment to 2,518 kindergartens students during the year. Eye care talks were organized to their parents and teachers to promote early detection and management of eye diseases for the prevention of permanent visual disability. A total of around 11% from those 2,518 students failed the refractive error test, the result warrent our concern.

 

 

The Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit (GIES)

16th - 18th June 2017

The GIES was held from 16 to 18 June 2017 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. The three-day Expo attracted more than 43,000 visitors. HKSB has set up a booth to introduce our smart building – Jockey Club Yan Hong Building, the services and products provided by Barrier Free Access (HK) Limited and the Home and Community Based Rehabilitation Services for Elderly Person with Low Vision.

 

In addition, we hosted three workshops and sharing sessions, topics included “A person-centered approach of smart living in elderly homes”, “Application of RFID smart cane” and “Application of VR on rehabilitation training”, to demonstrate the effectiveness on IT application in our services.

 

 

2017 Hong Kong Conference of Workability International and Workability Asia

12th - 14th June 2018

HKSB took part in the “2017 Conference of Workability International and Workability Asia”. There are more than 400 people participated in the Conference and half of them came from overseas. Factory for the Blind produced 500 pieces of conference bags as souvenir for the participants who spoke highly of the product quality.

 

We gave three presentations in the Conference. The Factory for the Blind has set up a booth to sell products made by the visually impaired persons at the venue, which were most welcomed by the participants. Dozens of overseas participants visited HKSB Headquarters and Factory for the Blind, to know more about our services for the visually impaired on the last day of the Conference.

 

Tandem Reunion

17th - 25th March 2018

We organized “Tandem Reunion” activity on 17 and 25 March 2018. There were altogether 20 visually impaired riders and 22 volunteers attended. The visually impaired riders were led by their sighted captains on tandem riding from Fo Tan to Ma Liu Shui Pier, then reached Lai Chi Wo by ferry. Participants enjoyed delicious meal prepared by the villagers and visited Lai Chi Wo led by tour guide. They also had a chance to try farming of herbs and spent a joyful day there.

 

2017 Volunteers, Donors cum Corporate Partners Appreciation Ceremony

28th April 2018

The biennial event “2017 Volunteers, Donors cum Corporate Partners Appreciation Ceremony” was organized on 28 April 2017. A total of 300 participants included 190 volunteers, 11 companies and 35 donors received recognition.

 

In 2015-2016, a total of 267 individual volunteers and 22 corporate volunteers provided an agregate of 61,000 hours services to our visually impaired service users. In addition, 131 individual donors and 70 corporate donors were awarded for their donation and sponsorship, one of them awarded the highest honour, Excellence Love Award.

 

Achievement Highlights

 

Awards and Recognitions Received

HKSB has been given recognition in different areas and received a number of awards during the past year. We will keep up the effort to provide diversified services to the visually impaired.

 

Talent-Wise Employment Charter and Inclusive Organisations Recognition Scheme

Friendly Employment Award:

• Hong Kong Society for the Blind

• Health Massage and Treatment Centre

• Barrier Free Access (HK) Limited

 

Outstanding Inclusive Team Award:

• Health Massage and Treatment Centre • Mobile Massage Team

• Centralised Braille Production Centre

• Barrier Free Access (HK) Limited

 

Awardee: Health Massage and Treatment Centre

 

The Eighth HK Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Award – Gold Award (Social Enterprise Category)

 

GOOD SO 2017 Outstanding Social Enterprise

 

2017 Tithe Ethical Consumption Movement – Customers’ Most Loving Social Enterprise

 

Media Coverage

Numbers of media report during the year :173 pieces

 

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Rehabilitation Services

 

"I can go outside independently and go anywhere as I like."

Wai, trainee of Rehabilitation Centre

 

Rehabilitation Centres

 

The Rehabilitation Centres continued to provide comprehensive rehabilitative training to the visually impaired in Hong Kong. As at 31 March 2018, there were 257 visually impaired persons on the waiting list. During the year, a total of 68 trainees have completed rehabilitation training, and 74 trainees have completed route orientation training. The Centres also provided 69 sighted guide talks to 2,078 participants from schools, organizations and the public.

 

The Service Team Leader and an Orientation & Mobility Instructor attended the 16th International Mobility Conference from 26 to 30 June 2017 at Dublin, Ireland. Report back session to HKSB’s staff was held on 10 October 2017. 

 

The Centres completed in September 2017 a major review of existing syllabus of different subjects and updated learning assessment tools to meet the changing needs of trainees. In addition, five hours basic training on using smart phone was newly added in the Techniques of Daily Living Skills training module.

 

The Client Information System (CIS) project supported by the Social Welfare Development Fund Phase 3 was kicked off on March 2018. Centre staff worked with the vender to build up a system to enhance the communication between the Centre management and the instructors so as to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of case management.

 

The Way Forward

Training Videos will be produced for each skills training subject for knowledge management. In addition, more in-depth sharing sessions will be held amongst instructors of different subject areas to enhance their professional growth. 

 

Resource Centre for the Deafblind

The first outbound exchange tour to Macau from 10 to 11 January 2018 was a memorable event to celebrate the 12th anniversary of Resource Centre for the Deafblind. Forty two participants included 20 deafblind members visited the Macau Deaf Association, the Macau Holy House of Mercy, an organization for the visually impaired, and tourist attractions of Macau.

 

Supported by Man Wah Trust Fund of HK$380,000, a one-year project of “Reach out to the needs of invisible hearts” was implemented in 2017/18 for the deafblind. A social worker was employed to render casework and counselling service. Fifty-three deafblind beneficiaries were successfully granted the subsidy to equip hearing aids and adaptive aids such as mobile phone and tablet computer. This new project was welcomed by the deafblind service users with positive feedbacks on the improvement of their communication with outsider.

 

In the past year, the Centre has organized experiential activities such as “Japan Culture Tour” with MOTIVIC (樂動視遊) to enrich members’ knowledge of the country. Performed at "Sham Shui Po Well-being Movement", deafblind participants were able to convey the messages of 'happiness', 'gratitude' and 'hope'. Sponsored by Hong Kong Star Lions during Chinese New Year, over 300 participants from a number of service units enjoyed Big Bowl Feast at Tai Po Lam Tsuen.

 

Communicator Guide Services for the Deafblind

With funding granted by the Community Chest Time Limited Project, “Communicator Guide Services for the Deafblind” continued to organize training course to train communicator guides. Nine students successfully completed elementary, intermediate and advanced courses and became communicator guides. Communicator guide services had been   overwhelmingly welcomed by deafblind members.

 

The Way Forward

In the coming year, the Centre will continue the “Communicator Guide Services for the Deafblind” and produce “Chinese Tactile Sign Language (HK) 3” to promote the communication method with the deafblind.

 

 

Service Statistics

 As at 31 March 2018

 

Rehabilitation Centres

No. of training session conducted	29,661
No. of trainees received training (by subjects)	4,300
No. of trainees received training (included those completed and not yet completed)	261
No. of trainees completed rehabilitation & route orientation training	148
No. of individual assessment conducted	416
No. of attendance in outdoor activities	516
No. of site inspections in the community	9

 

Resource Centre for the Deafblind

Deafblind members’ age profile

20 or Below	23%	34
21-30	10%	15
31-40	6%	9
41-50	9%	14
51-60	18%	27
61-70	17%	25
71-80	3%	5
81or Above	14%	20
Total		149

 

Communicator Guide Service for the Deafblind

Total no. of registered communicators	32
No. of communicator services provided	211
No. of deafblind service users	41

 

Deafblind Training Programme

Total no. of trainees living in hostel	9
Total no. of trainees living in community	6
Total no. of trainees	15

 

Certificate Course for the Communicator Guide for the Deafblind

Elementary (10th batch)

No. of participants	14
No. of qualified communicator	10

Intermediate (5th batch)

No. of participants	18
No. of qualified communicator	14

Advance (5th batch)

No. of participants	10
No. of qualified communicator	9

 

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Residential Services

 

"Never imagine that I could dance while sitting on the chair. Amazing!"

Bik Chi, resident of Kowloon Home for the Aged Blind

 

Residential Services

In line with the two strategic directions adopted by HKSB, namely, “Shape One HKSB “ and “Strengthen Customer-Centric Culture” for the three-year programme plan from 2016/17 to 2018/19.  Below were the major highlights of the achievements made by residential services.

 

Shape One HKSB- Collaboration projects with academic institutions

The integrated rehabilitation team comprising physiotherapists (PT) and occupational therapists (OT), carried out collaboration projects with different universities to enhance the caring skills for the visually impaired elderly through staff training and research studies. Projects included collaboration with The University of Hong Kong Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and the Tung Wah College School of Medical and Health Sciences.

 

Strengthen Customer - Centric Culture

Life Review Project for Aged Blind

With a donation of HK$200,000 from DRS Richard Charles & Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation in June 2017 to support the “Life Review Project for Aged Blind”, nine youth writers with visual impairment were recruited from Ebenezer School to interview aged blind residents in our four aged blind homes in December 2017, to write up the life stories of aged blind residents and to assist in the production of 50 life review books in both print and audio formats.  Closing ceremony for the project would be launched in January 2019.

 

Eat Well Live Well Project

An “Eat Well Live Well Project” with generous sponsorship of HK$250,000 by Mrs. Grace Tsao, was implemented in all residential homes to enhance the meal service for our service users.

 

Under this project, a dietitian was engaged in the project to give his professional advice on menus, health education and staff training.  The dietitian had collected basic data of residents’ health measurement for analysis and comparison.  Staff training and educational talks for residents and family members were conducted by the dietitian from May to August 2017.  A tasty corner, equipped with simple cooking appliances had been set up in each home with different programmes held for the residents. A 4-season nutritional manual for aged blind residents and multiply handicapped blind would be produced in September 2018.

 

Innovation and Use of IT

The use of IT and innovative facilities had been adopted in the new Jockey Club Yan Hong Building to provide a model of barrier-free and smart home.  HKSB was invited to hold a booth in the Gerontech & Innovation Expo cum Summit from 16 to 18 June 2017 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. The Superintendent of Yuen Long Home and occupational therapist were invited to share their service experience and use of IT in the Expo. In addition, Director of Residential Services and Superintendent of Yuen Long Home were interviewed in the “Pearl Report” of TVB in June 2017. The occupational therapist was also invited to have media interview on Virtual Reality (VR) training in May and June 2017 respectively by Ta Kung Pao and HK01.

 

Japan Study Tour & Exchange

Supported by Social Welfare Development Fund, a team of 12 professional staff members joined the Japan Study Tour from 20 to 24 November 2017 to visit the dementia care service, aged blind home service and technology application.  On top of this, three social workers and warden of Morning Glory DAC cum Hostel went to an aged blind home in Tokyo for an exchange programme from 25 to 27 September 2017.

 

A report back session for Japan Study Tour & Exchange was held in 17 December 2017 to share the reflection and insights obtained from the facilities visit.  The tour had been enlightening and members were impressed by the passion of the staff working for the elderly and the visually impaired in Japan.  The members of the study group had started to work out customer-centric service enhancement, including use of technology in service delivery, more tactile cues for visually impaired clients, appropriate care for demented residents and clients with emotional or aggressive behavior, etc.

 

Positive Living of Persons with multiple disabilities and visual impairment

The “Cheers Band” and the “Happy Clowns” team were formed by trainees of the Morning Glory DAC cum Hostel and Home of Delight for over 10 years.  Through public performance, they have gained public recognition and admiration of their potential in performing arts.

 

Public Education through media

The story of Ambassadors of Positive Living of the Happy Clown and The Cheers Band gained mass coverage in electronic media of i-CABLE. Although they are visual impaired with multiple disabilities, they still work very hard and try their best to strive for the best performance. 

 

Mr Johnny Tsang, the drummer of the “Cheers Band”, received an award in the Sham Shui Po Well Being Movement 2017/18 jointly held by District Council and Social Welfare Department for his “never give up” belief during his hard times.

 

Fundraising Events

On 1 April 2017, a fundraising music concert with the InVision Group was held in Tin Shui Wai BBQ venue with 120 participants, included the residents from Yuen Long Aged Blind Home and trainees from Home of Delight. The performance of “Cheers Band” inspired the participants with lots of love and hope. 

 

Legacy Hong Kong also invited “Cheers Band” to join their fundraising program on 10 September 2017. The total amount of HK$150,000 raised would be used for supporting service users in joining the Exchange Tour to Taiwan in 2018.

 

The Way Forward

We shall continue to expand collaboration with various academic institutions, including the University of Hong Kong on the promotion of the new mobile application “Eat more, Talk more” and produce the “Assisted Feeding” training video supported by Social Welfare Development Fund for frontline staff training.  In addition, supported by the Social Welfare Development Fund as well, an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) orientation video will be produced for staff’s safety use of equipment and escort for taking rehab-bus.

 

With the approved grant from Lotteries Fund, Jockey Club Tuen Mun Home for the Aged Blind and Morning Glory DAC cum Hostel will conduct fire safety and building safety rectification works in order to meet the licensing requirements of Residential Care Homes for Persons with Disabilities.

 

The application of VR and Augmented Reality (AR) technology in service enhancement and rehabilitation training will be further explored.

 

Service Statistics

As at 31 March 2018

Enrolment

Home	Male	Female	Total
Bradbury Care and Attention Home for the Aged Blind	24	26	50
Kowloon Home for the Aged Blind	N/A	76	76
Yuen Long Home for the Aged Blind Care and Attention Section	31	29	60
Yuen Long Home for the Aged Blind Infirmary Section	9	7	16
Jockey Club Tuen Mun Home for the Aged Blind Care and Attention Section	78	117	195
Jockey Club Tuen Mun Home for the Aged Blind Infirmary Section	6	28	34
Morning Glory DAC cum Hostel Day Training Centre	33	28	61
Morning Glory DAC cum Hostel Hostel	32	29	61
Home of Delight	20	20	40
Home of Wellness Basic Care	1	3	4
Home of Wellness Enhanced Care	9	17	26
Home of Wellness Infirmary Care	4	1	5

 

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Employment Services

 

"After being employed by a private company, I can earn my living and support my family, I am satisfied and happy."

Ka Hung, trainee of Factory for the Blind

 

The Career Support and Development Centre

The 16th Massage Training Couse

The seven-month 16th Massage Training Course ended in December 2017. Ten visually impaired trainees successfully completed the training and all of them have been employed as masseurs.

 

Advanced Massage Training Course

Six advanced massage training classes to equip experienced visually impaired masseurs with better knowledge and skill were conducted in April and May 2017. There were eight visually impaired masseurs in each class.

 

Collaboration Scheme on Job Trial

Twenty one trainees participated in the project and completed a total of 768 days of training in which their skills and knowledge were enhanced. They were given different job exposures through the Scheme to enhance their employability.

 

Piano Tuning and Basic Repair Training Course

A visually impaired candidate completed the training and passed the examination in October 2017. He had been assigned to work in the Factory for the Blind since December 2017 to enrich his skill and work experience through on-the-job training.

 

Class on Piano Cleaning and Simple Repairing

Two classes were conducted in December 2017 for eight visually impaired job-seekers  to equip them with a new skill and enhanced their employment opportunity.

 

Recycling of Used Pianos Project

Through the repair and sales of used pianos, The Career Support and Development Centre (CSDC) provided job opportunities to the graduated visually impaired piano tuners, and raised fund to support employment training for them. It became a self-financed project and referred 67 piano tuning jobs to the visually impaired piano tuners and sold 35 pianos to earn significant programme income.

 

Revamping of Cando.hk

To enhance the Cando.hk as a more informative and interactive platform for the employers and visually impaired job seekers, so as to increase the employment opportunities for them, CSDC revamped the website and it was launched in May 2018.

 

2017 Conference of Workability International and Workability Asia

We reported in the Conference about what types of training were used by CSDC to develop the talents and potentials of the visually impaired to enable them to find jobs, develop their career and enjoy a more rewarding lives.

 

The Way Forward

CSDC will organize the 17th Massage Training Course and six advanced massage training classes of different subjects to increase the employment opportunities and job securities of the visually impaired, assist service users in open employment. An exchange study tour to Guangzhou will be organized for 10 working visually impaired masseurs to expand their knowledge and skill.

 

For the Simple Piano Cleaning & Maintenance Training Classes, more visually impaired trainees will be equipped with the knowledge and skills in piano cleaning and repairing in order to enhance their work motivation and employment opportunity.

 

CSDC will conduct different kinds of vocational and job-related training classes and programmes to enhance the employability of the visually impaired job seekers.

 

Factory for the Blind

The Factory actively participated in a number of exhibitions last year, included "The 52nd Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo" and "The Caring Company Partnership Expo 2018". Beside service and product promotion for the Factory, we used the opportunity to train our service users in customer service skill and sales technique, and to organize the product display and decorate the booth. In the "2018 Expo for Social Enterprises" organized by Rehabilitation Agencies, we received a Merit Award of the "Most Popular Booth", which was an affirmation on the ability and good performance of our service users, who actively served in the booth and participated in the Event.

 

To strengthen the whole person development of our service users, some programme enhancements were made in the area of emotional control, social manner and communication skill as a result of a review of some programme activities. The improvement provided better personal growth and development for the service users.

 

To facilitate the participation of family members, they were invited to join a workability and inclusion event in November 2017. The sharing given by the disabled employees, corporate employers and social service practitioners in the programme activities enhanced the understanding of the present and future development in vocational rehabilitation service of the participated family members.

 

The joint conference of Workability International and Workability Asia was held in Hong Kong in June 2017. It attracted over 400 local and international delegates. Our staff presented a paper on “Barriers to employment for the visually impaired persons in Hong Kong” and highlighted the importance of barrier free environment for the successful employment of the disabled with illustrations and examples. The Factory also received a job order from the Event’s organizing committee to produce souvenir bags for the conference participants.

 

The Factory took an initiative to partner with several chain stores in the promotion of a series of “No. 19 Mok Cheong Street” branded products, include the Joint Publishing (Hong Kong) Limited and the Citistore. The project increased public awareness of the work potential of our service users.

 

The Way Forward

In the coming year, the Factory will enlarge the scale of cleansing training by increasing the number of training placement. A series of job seeking and work adaptation workshops will be organized to equip them with better job seeking and problem solving skills to increase their chance of success in the open employment.

A new working group will be formed to facilitate brand development of the Factory. More products of “No. 19 Mok Cheong Street” will be developed to widen the product portfolio and to publicize the workability of the disabled to enhance social inclusion.

 

Health Massage and Treatment Centre

25th Anniversary Celebration

2017 marked the 25th anniversary for the S.K. Yee Health Massage and Treatment Centre. The Centre has been providing training and job opportunities for the visually impaired to fully demonstrate their abilities since its establishment in 1992. The outcomes are fruitful and the impact is far reaching in the Society. Customers and suppliers joined our 25th Anniversary Celebration Tea Party and free massage demonstration in April 2017 to share our happiness and achievements.

 

Business Overview

The S.K. Yee Health Massage and Treatment Centre and the Bernard van Zuiden Health Massage and Treatment Centre have both achieved surpluses in the past year. Five additional visually impaired staff members were employed. A total of 28 visually impaired masseurs/masseuses, beauty masseuse and massage assistants are now working at the two Centres.

 

Professional Recognitions and Awards

The Centre has won a number of remarkable awards in recognition of its excellent performance in professional service, social care and support for the visually impaired staff members. To name a few, these awards include: GOOD SO 2017 Outstanding Social Enterprise, 2017 Tithe Ethical Consumption Movement – "Customers’ Most Loving Social Enterprise", the Eighth HK Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Award – Gold Award (Social Enterprise Category), "Sisters BeautyPro Beauty Entrepreneur Award 2017 (Diamond)" and the "2017 Excellent Professional Beauty Salon" Award. These awards affirmed our professionalism and boosted staff morale in providing quality services to the customers.

 

Renovation work in the Centres

The Hong Kong Community Chest Capital Project Fund donated HK$578,870 to support the renovation of S.K. Yee Health Massage and Treatment Centre and the Bernard van Zuiden Health Massage and Treatment Centre. The hygiene and safety conditions of the two

Centres have seen remarkable improvement, benefiting both the visually impaired staff members and the customers.

 

Staff Training and Development

We are committed to the provision of professional training and development opportunities to staff members, so that they can constantly upgrade their skill sets to achieve service excellence. Twenty full-time and part-time masseurs/masseurs attended two advanced massage training courses jointly held with the Career Support and Development Centre. Senior instructors from Mainland China were invited to teach our visually impaired staff and upgraded their knowledge and skills. All of them completed the courses and passed the tests.

 

The Way Forward

In line with the Centres’ customer centric strategic approach, service re-engineering will be continued in the coming years. We aim to provide an excellent service environment for customers, skill upgrade and a safe and barrier free working environment for our visually impaired staff members, thus enabling them to fully develop their talent.

 

Service Statistics

As at 31 March 2018

The Career Support and Development Centre

 

Employment Service

No. of job seekers registered	518
No. of new job seekers	27
No. of counseling service/consultations	4,203
No. of job seekers already gainfully employed	56
No. of interviews under escort	96
No. of job vacancy referrals	753

Job Support and Training Activities

No. of loan-out aids/appliances	101
No. of training classes & sessions	8&40
No. of training programme & No. of attendance	9&56

Computer Zone and Self-study Rooms

No. of facility users by headcount  1,036

 

Health Massage and Treatment Centres

No. of Visually Impaired staff	28
No. of Sighted staff	14
Total no. of staff	42

 

	Mobile Massage Team	Health Massage and Treatment Centres
Total No. of Customers	3,418	10,810
Total No. of Service Hours	1,622	333,573

 

Factory for the Blind

No. of service users in each section

Assembling	149
Paper Box	31
Sewing	13
Filing Tag	7
Storekeeping	6
Customer Service	1
Total	207

  

Age distribution of service users

20 or Below	1
21-30	26
31-40	33
41-50	70
51-60	54
61 or Above	23
Total	207

 

Classification of service users

Classification

Visually Impaired	22
Hearing Impaired	1
Intellectually Disabled	103
Ex-mentally Ill	80
Physical Handicapped	1
Total	207

 

Sales Proceeds (HK$)

Paper Box	9,160,878
Customer Service	2,040,196
Sewing	2,170,612
Filing Tag	1,439,821
Assembling	1,205,459
Total	16,016,966

 

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Barrier Free Facilities and Adaptive Equipment Services

 

" The adaptive equipment provided by BFAHK increases my learning efficiency, it is my good study partner."

Ethan Yang, visually impaired student

 

Barrier Free Access (HK) Limited

 

In the year of 2017/18, Barrier Free Access (HK) Limited (BFAHK) contributed much to enhance the quality of life of visually impaired through building up an accessible environment for the community, participated in research and development (R&D) project of assistive facilities for the visually impaired to raise their independent living ability in the community.

 

Achievements

BFAHK has continued to make impressive achievements in building up the accessible environment by designing and supplying tactile maps and Braille signage for over 100 premises, including shopping malls, MTR stations, parks, recreational areas and government facilities. BFAHK made full use of the new UV printer to produce tactile maps and Braille signage for MTR, ecological park and shopping malls. In order to assist the visually impaired in using accessible toilets with automatic doors, BFAHK developed a new audible system to provide audio instructions to operate the automatic doors.

 

The joint R&D project with the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM) to develop a cloud-based positioning and navigation system was completed in November 2017. BFAHK has proactively promoted the navigation system to different shopping malls, public transport facilities and government departments so as to enhance the independent mobility of visually impaired in public premises. Moreover, being sponsored by The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, BFAHK has developed a mobile application, namely “Hong Kong Banknotes Reader”, to assist the visually impaired to identify the denominations of Hong Kong banknotes. The mobile application will use the camera of a smartphone to scan the banknotes and then read the values of the banknotes by voice and vibration feedback. The mobile application will be available for the public to download in July 2018.

 

In early 2018, BFAHK launched “DOT concept store” which aimed at promoting the importance of Braille and sense of touch through selling daily life products with Braille and tactile features. DOT will provide on-the-job training in shop management and selling skills for two visually impaired shopkeepers every year, so as to equip them with the abilities and self-confidence to secure a job in open employment.

 

The Way Forward

In the coming year, BFAHK will focus on the promotion of the positioning and navigation system and further enhancing its positioning accuracy by integrating advanced positioning technologies. The business of Adaptive Aids and Equipment Service Centre will be transferred to BFAHK starting from 1 April 2018. BFAHK will further increase the product variety to provide more innovative and suitable adaptive aids and equipment for the visually impaired to enhance their work efficiency and quality of life.

 

Adaptive Aids and Equipment Service Centre

 

Adaptive Aids and Equipment Service Centre (AESC) provides assistive equipment and daily living aids to the visually impaired to enhance their independent living. By testing and accessing new products and collecting users’ feedback, the Centre has selected reliable and quality products in the market, aims at providing customers with a variety of products.

 

The sales for 2017/18 was 7.8% higher than the budget forecast. To support the initiative of “One HKSB”, the Centre has collaborated with different departments to foster efficiency in product supply, sales and promotion. The collaborations included joining with General Eye and Low Vision Centre to hold talks and demonstrations in the day care centres for the elderly across Hong Kong to introduce assistive aids and demonstrate its functions to the elders, and works closely with the Vision 2020 - Low Vision Resource Centre in sourcing and purchasing of aids to lower the costs and achieve higher efficiency in logistics management.

 

Apart from internal collaboration, the Centre also strived to reach out to potential customers and provide up-to-date product information to the visitors from the field, teachers of special schools and optometrists.

 

As one of the participating service units under HKSB attending the “2017 Conference of Workability International and Workability Asia”, AESC has gathered data and case study on the use of adaptive equipment and presented a report on “Improving the Employment Opportunities of the Visually Impaired with Adaptive Equipment” at the Conference.

 

The Way Forward

The business of AESC will be transferred to BFAHK starting from 1 April 2018. With the solid foundation laid over the years by the Centre, BFAHK will further extend the scope of service and increase the product variety. Moreover, BFAHK will strengthen the communication with overseas suppliers in product development and product performance evaluation in order to meet the needs of local users. Promotional materials will be distributed to institutional and individual service users when there are products update and release.

 

Service Statistics As at 31 March 2018

Barrier Free Access (HK) Limited

No. of tactile maps designed and produced (pieces)	163
No. of customers served (nos)	450
No. of orders (nos)	1,211

Adaptive Aids and Equipment Service Centre 

Units of Equipment Sold	260
Maintenance and Repair Services Provided (number of job orders)	192

Adaptive Equipment Sales 

Repairs and Maintenance	192	42%
Braille and Speech Devices	37	8%
Magnification Software	19	4%
Portable Magnifiers	80	18%
Embossers	7	2%
Desktop CCTVs	74	16%
ScreenReader Software	43	10%
Total	192

 

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Eye Care and Low Vision Services

 

" Thanks to the optometric service of the General Eye and Low Vision Centre, my daughter's eyesight problem has been identified and corrected promptly."

Service user of the Centre, Sze Ki’s (5 year-old) mother

 

The General Eye and Low Vision Centre

In 2017/18, the General Eye and Low Vision Centre provided quality but affordable optometric and ophthalmological consultations and more than 1,000 cataract and other types of eye surgeries to over 46,000 patients by head count. Besides, consultations had been rendered to 1,239 low vision patients and 34 sessions of low vision training were given to 55 eye care professionals.

 

Training and Public Education

Renowned globally for its provision of quality services and training centre in low vision, the Centre provided clinical training to final year optometry students from  the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, ophthalmologists from government hospitals and many local and overseas service providers for more than 10 years.

 

Some of the more distinctive training and public programmes conducted in 2017/18 were:

 

Low vision training was given to staff employed by the Lions Club MD300 of Taiwan in March 2018, to help them set up the first national low vision rehabilitation centre in Kaohsiung.

 

A six-days seminar and case demonstrations was held in January and February 2018 on the assessment and training techniques for students with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI). The training was provided to 33 teachers and therapists from the Ebenezer School. It had equipped the participants with latest knowledge on what techniques and resources they could employ to maximize the potentials of CVI students.

A public education programme conducted in collaboration with the Lions Club D303 Hong Kong & Macao was held from December 2017 to May 2018. Educational seminar and visual impairment stimulation goggles and games were employed to show the impact of blindness and the importance of early detection and prevention. Eight thousand goggles were produced and the programme reached over 12,000 primary and secondary school students and the public.

 

Surgical and Consultation Subsidies to the Needy

With generous donations from the S.K. Yee Medical Foundation, the Centre has provided subsidized cataract surgeries to restore the eye sight of 44 patients with financial difficulties. 1,867 patients receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance have had 50% of their consultation fee waived. The services helped to improve the visual and functional abilities of the poor and allowed them to regain independence and enjoy better lives.

 

Customer-Centric Programme

To further enhance the vision rehabilitation service, the Centre has recruited a full time social worker to provide counseling services and psychosocial support to its low vision patients. We have also set up a more systematic referral scheme, so that patients can quickly obtain the needy daily living aids and adaptive aids from the Adaptive Aids and Equipment Service Centre.

 

Vision Screening for Kindergarten Students and 2017 World Sight Day

Vision screening was provided to 2,518 kindergarten students under the sponsorship of L’OCCITANE Foundation. The results were published on the 2017 World Sight Day week and reported by various media.

 

The Way Forward

An optometric consultation and Cataract and Glaucoma screening service will be provided to the disabled clients referred by the Caritas Rehabilitation Service Center.

 

We will provide vision screening to no less than 4,000 kindergarten students under the sponsorship of L’OCCITANE Foundation. Free clinical consultation and eye glasses will be provided to those who are from the poor families.

 

Vision 2020 - Low Vision Resource Centre

 

The Centre continued to play a major supplier role of quality low vision products at affordable prices to the eye centres and hospitals that served the visually impaired in the developing countries. It dispensed over 17,500 pieces of assessment equipment and low vision devices to 23 developing countries in 2017/18.

 

To make the use of the centre’s services a very satisfying and enjoyable experience for the service users, a survey was carried out to collect useful information for product and service improvements, and the formulation of supply strategies that can better meet the market needs.

 

The Centre redesigned its product catalogs and introduced three social media platforms to provide updated product information to its current and potential customers, and allow them to make enquiries online.

 

The Centre also introduced credit card payment for small transactions and started an attractive incentive programme with discount to both members and non-members of The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to attract more new clients worldwide.

 

The Centre and members of the IAPB Low Vision Working Group worked together to develop a clinical and service protocol on low vision suitable for use in the developing countries. It was published in an international journal, the “Optometry in Practice” in June 2017.

 

The Way Forward

The Centre will not stop making all the required efforts to develop good marketing strategies and provide business solution that would result in the provision of better product, stronger professional support and higher standard of service for its clients.

 

Service Statistics As at 31 March 2018

 

Vision 2020 - Low Vision Resource Centre

 

No. of low vision devices dispensed to developing countries  17,670 Pcs

 

General Eye and Low Vision Centre

General Eye

	Total No. of Patient Attendance
No. of ophthalmic consultations	22,806
No. of optometric consultations- (including 531 low vision cases)	23,242
No. of major eye surgery	1,090

 

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Education and Community Support Services

 

" We walk into the world of reading through Braille books, to understand geometry and cell structure; and tour from the southern to the northern hemisphere, they bring dots of colour to our unilluminated world."

A group of students from the Ebenezer School

 

Centralised Braille Production Centre

 

All along, the Centralised Braille Production Centre (CBPC) has been producing braille reading materials for the visually impaired in Hong Kong. On top of producing Braille books, Braille eBooks, magazines, newspaper, and managing the reservation system website, CBPC has developed Braille audio text-to-speech eBook as well as print-text ePub3 eBooks to cater  the various reading modes for visually impaired readers.  With the support from the Education Bureau, CBPC continued the programme on print-text ePub3 ebooks for the visually impaired students. A Summary Production Workflow Report and Operation Procedural Guide were completed to conclude the previous one-year pilot programme.

 

From the school year 2017/18, Ebenezer School started using Unified English Braille (UEB) in all subjects for their primary school. CBPC has produced 110 textbooks in 242 volumes in UEB and added UEB version of Goodies for students.  Other than colleagues from CBPC and Ebenezer School, representatives from Hong Kong Blind Union, Barrier Free Access (HK) Limited and Information Accessibility Centre Users’ Committee under HKSB have joined the UEB Technical Committee, trying to solve the confusion caused by using UEB and Cantonese Braille codes side-by-side and to formulate promotion strategy.  CBPC also started a column in 《Braille Monthly Magazine》from January 2018 as part of the UEB promotion campaign.

 

In order to enhance professional knowledge and international knowledge sharing, CBPC work team has attended the Tactile Reading Conference held in Sweden in April 2017.  It was also encouraging to be awarded the 2017-18 Outstanding Inclusive Team Award in the Talent Wise Employment Charter and Inclusive Organizations Recognition Scheme by the Labour and Welfare Bureau.

 

The Way Forward

In the coming year, CBPC expects further collaboration with various visually impaired parties on the UEB development in Hong Kong in both the technical and promotional aspects. CBPC will keep up its efforts in enhancing professional knowledge, its eBook development and cooperate with the Information Accessibility Centre to promote reading culture and increase the collection on light reading material.

 

Information Accessibility Centre

 

Voicing and Reading Skills Training Workshop for Volunteers

To enhance the quality of our audio book recording, the Information Accessibility Centre (IAC) organized a Voicing and Reading Skills Training Workshop for our volunteers who help to record audio books and periodicals. IAC invited the Audio Book Consultant, Mr Cheng Kai Ming, as the guest speaker. After the workshop, Mr Cheng was invited to give advice to individual volunteers during their recording sessions.

 

Besides, IAC organized a voice training for 10 experienced volunteer audio describers. The instructor is a lecturer in Voice Studies. From the feedback received, all the participants found the training useful and inspiring. The training enhanced their skills in using their voices when providing live audio description.

 

Audio Description Services

IAC was honored to be invited to provide audio description (AD) sound track for ViuTV’s travel programme “Travel in Darkness 2” again. The programme was broadcasted from September to October 2017 and was well received by the visually impaired audiences.

 

Film DVDs with Audio Description

With staunch support from the Golden Scene Company Limited, IAC produced AD tracks for the film DVD “Weeds on Fire” and “Mad World” which were publicly released in April and November 2017 respectively.

 

Talks

To widen the knowledge of our visually impaired service users, IAC has organized two cultural talks in collaboration with Read-cycling. Besides, we organized a legal talk in collaboration with King & Wood Mallesons. The above talks were well received by our service users.

 

The Way Forward

Making AD a regular service in the community was our long term goal. In the coming year, we will continue to take the lead in advocating for the film makers to incorporate pre-recorded AD tracks to their films before showing in cinemas. At the same time, we will encourage more cinemas to equip with audio system, which includes receivers and headphones, to enable visually impaired audiences to access to the pre-recorded AD in the films. When the above hardware and software are ready, our visually impaired service users will be able to watch film(s) with their families/friends at the cinema(s) they choose and at any time they preferred. This facilitates their equal participation in cultural activities and improve their quality of life.

 

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Project Grant: Family Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired

In response to meet the changing and genuine needs of target service users, the Centre keeps on enhancing its service and programmes to make good use of the resources. A new programme focusing on three major service components: Centre-based Supportive Services, Holistic Support Service for Visually Impaired Students and Parent Training & Empowerment Programmes was started from 2017/18. “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Project Grant: Parents Resource Centre for Visually Impaired Children” was hence renamed as the “Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Project Grant: Family Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (FRC)” from 1 April 2017.

 

The high quality services fulfilled the requirement of the  two major funding bodies: Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and Social Welfare Department. In addition, a number of innovative projects have made significant impact to our members. 

 

“Drum Up” African Drum Experiences Project

With funding support of HK$100,000 from the Swire Properties Community Caring Fund,  FRC started a one-year project in July 2017 with the aims of enabling the members to learn the basic techniques of African Drum and giving them a sense of achievement that boosted confidence on stage performance.

 

A series of youth and parent-child drum learning workshops, drum circle programmes were organized under the lead of a professional tutor and a visually impaired assistant. Some talented learners were selected and appointed as Music Ambassador to assist in the workshops and promote the programmes to set up a train-the-trainer model and facilitated the peer support among the learners.

 

HNA Extra-Curricular Activities Subsidy Scheme for Visually Impaired Students

The Scheme aims to enable visually impaired students from low-income families to participate in extra-curricular activities during the school years. HNA Group (International) Company Limited has been the title sponsor of the Scheme since 2015/16 and has continued its annual support of HK$100,000 in 2017/18. In the past year, sponsorship was given to 19 visually impaired students aged between 6 and 15 to subsidize their participation in extra-curricular activities and artistic advancement courses. HNA also sponsored the 2017 Summer Variety Show held on 19 August 2017. The excellent performance by 38 performers have gained the applause of the audiences.

 

“See Together, Happy Together with the VI” Drama Project

With the funding support from the Man Wah Trust Fund, FRC started this project in October 2015. Under the guidance of the professional drama centre, “Wishes”, a series of drama training workshops have been conducted, with the assistance of secondary school student volunteers recruited from the public. Two musicals were performed at the Pak Tin Community Hall and Hong Chi Morning Hope School on 20 August 2017 and  23 December 2017 respectively, which attracted a total of 180 audiences. Visually impaired participants exhibited their confidence and courage through acting and speaking of oneself in the drama.

 

The Way Forward

FRC was founded in 1998, it will enter into its 20th year. The Centre will launch a series of celebration activities include: Logo Design Competition, 20th Anniversary Celebration Kickoff Party cum Summer Variety Show, 20th Anniversary Arts Exhibitions at MTR Community Art Gallery, and 20th Celebration Stage Performance cum Arts Carnival at apm Shopping Mall on 20 October 2018.

 

Volunteer Development Service

Volunteer Training and Gathering

At the end of December 2017, the number of active individual and organization volunteers serving our various departments were 716 and 34 respectively.  A volunteer orientation day was organized on 7 April 2017 for 16 new volunteers to enhance their understanding of the needs of and communication skills with visually impaired persons. One training workshop on wheelchairs usage for 9 volunteers and 10 staff was held on 19 May 2017.  A training day camp was also held on 1 December 2017 where 78 volunteers learned about positive psychology and eco farming, apart from developing friendship. Besides, a biennial Volunteers, Donors cum Corporate Partners Appreciation Ceremony was held on 28 April 2017 to award 294 volunteers and 11 caring organizations with 61,000 volunteer service hours in the year 2015 and 2016.  We had 16 service departments with 197 volunteers, 34 donors and guests attended to witness their contribution in volunteerism.

 

Caring Company Scheme

All of the 23 partner companies and organizations nominated by HKSB have been awarded the Caring Company/ Caring Organization Logos organized by the Hong Kong Council of Social Services in 2017/18. Our Career Support and Development Centre, Factory for the Blind and Health Massage and Treatment Centre took part in the HKCSS Caring Company Partnership Expo held on 16 March 2018 to showcase their services and products to the public.

 

The Way Forward

With the set-up of a new Communications and Resource Development Office, the volunteers database and donors management system will be further enhanced. It will link-up corporate volunteers for partnership building, create multiplatform collaboration projects and public engagement work with potential sponsors.  Besides, volunteers training in the form of workshops and day camps will be continued to promote volunteerism and their sense of belongingness to HKSB.

 

Public Education Programmes

The Labour and Welfare Bureau sponsoring part of the expenditures of our public education programmes during the past year. We have organized activities for 136 schools and organizations, with over 10,000 participants.

 

Since 2015, we have been organizing public education programmes for parents and kids which were well received by the parents. From July to October 2017, we have continued to organize 12 sessions of “Summer Fun” programmes at the Headquarters, Factory for the Blind and Jockey Club Yan Hong Building. A total of 423 parents and children participated. The parents indicated that, those activities were meaningful and provided a special experience for their children.

 

We have taken part in the AEON “Yellow Receipt Campaign” Phase 10 and 11. Service promotion booth was set up on every 11th day of the month from February 2017 to January 2018.

 

A comic book was published in 2017, to teach the public in an interesting way how to communicate with visually impaired persons.

 

The Way Forward

We will continue to organize different public education programmes with more interesting elements to make the activities more attractive. In addition, “Fun Facts About Visually Impaired 3” will be published to help the public to understand more about the daily lives and abilities of visually impaired persons. Last but not least, we will continue to explore opportunities for collaboration with other organizations and corporate, to promote public awareness on the services of HKSB.

 

Service Statistics As at 31 March 2018

Information Accessibility Centre

Members 3,146

Tele-digital Library Service for the Visually Impaired Usage Frequency 370,734

	Collection	Loans
Braille Books	13,894 titles	5,664 volumes
Talking Books (titles)	7,340	7,995
Music Compact Discs (discs)	7,486	5,057
CD-ROMs/VCDs/DVDs (discs)	9,465	3,610
Talking Periodicals (cassettes)	N/A	8,034
Braille Periodicals (volumes)	N/A	6,639

 

Centralised Braille Production Centre

Transcribed Braille books	522 titles
Produced Braille eBooks	568 titles
Audio Braille Books	60 titles
Collected Braille eBook Reservation System	5,772 titles

 

Volunteer Development Service

No. of individual volunteers registered	716
No. of corporate volunteers registered	34

Total No. of service hours

Individual volunteers	22,617
Corporate volunteers	1,853

 

Public Education

Public Education Programme

No. of participants	10,601
No. of schools and organizations	136

 

Family Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired

Members  373

Member Attendance

Drop-in members	3,862
Visitors	124
Enquires/Referral	124
Toy & Resource Loans	146

No. of Programmes and Attendance

Programmes	152
Attendance	2,832

 

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Our Team

Management Staff	26	4%
Social Worker & Welfare Staff	57	8%
Supporting Staff	116	16%
Paramedical Staff	126	18%
Clerical Staff	116	16%
Direct Service Staff	265	38%
Total	706