Highlights of the Year 2021-22
Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care
The Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care was launched in December 2018 to subsidise eligible elderly and rehabilitation service units to procure/rent and try out technology products so as to improve the quality of life of service users and reduce the burden and pressure of care staff and carers. As at 31 March 2022, a total grant of around $430 million was approved for some 1 400 elderly and rehabilitation service units to procure or rent over 11 000 technology products.
The Hong Kong Paralympians Fund
The Hong Kong Paralympians Fund (HKPF) aims at fostering the development of sports for athletes with disabilities and supporting their pursuit of sporting excellence in international events. To enhance the sustainability of the HKPF, an amount of $200 million was approved by the Finance Committee to be injected into the Fund as seed money in 2013-14. In 2021-22, a total funding of $6.52 million was approved, of which $3.71 million was allocated to sports organisations to support the development of priority sports for PWDs (including athletics, lawn bowls, gymnastics, skating, floor hockey/floorball, snowshoeing, archery, shooting, swimming, judo and sailing) & $0.51 million to meet the audit fee and related administrative expenses. Also, $2.30 million was allocated to athletes with disabilities to help them strive for distinguished results in international competitions.
Arts Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities
The Arts Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities was set up in March 2019 to subsidise non-profit making NGOs/bodies with relevant experience in organising various time-defined arts programmes or activities for PWDs, in order to enhance their arts knowledge, foster their interest in arts, develop their potential, and nurture PWDs with great artistic potential to help them strive for excellence or pursue an artistic career. In 2021-22, over $4.31 million was granted to eight service units to implement nine arts projects.
Special Needs Trust
The Government established the Special Needs Trust (SNT) Office in December 2018. With the Director of Social Welfare Incorporated as the trustee, SNT provides reliable and affordable trust services for managing the assets of deceased parents of children with special needs. Regular disbursements will be made to their children’s carers, who may be individuals or organisations, in accordance with their wishes. This is to ensure that their assets will be used for meeting the long-term daily needs of their children after their passing. As at 31 March 2022, the SNT Office received 47 applications for the SNT service.
The 10th Batch of Financial Support Scheme for Self-help Organisations of Persons with Disabilities / Chronic Illnesses (2020-22)
SWD provided an annual funding of about $21 million for 96 self-help organisations of persons with disabilities or chronic illnesses in 2020-22 to support their development, and promote the spirit of self-help among persons with disabilities or chronic illnesses and their carers.
Pilot Scheme on Professional Outreaching Teams for Private Residential Care Homes for Persons with Disabilities
A pilot scheme has been implemented since 2018-19 to provide multi-disciplinary professional outreach services for about 4 000 residents living in private residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) in Hong Kong. Under the pilot scheme, four outreach teams have been set up to cater for the residents’ social and rehabilitation needs. The teams also provide consultation, training and support for the residents’ family members and staff of the private RCHDs to improve the care and support given to the residents, and promote their participation in community networking activities with a view to achieving social inclusion. The pilot scheme will be regularised from March 2023 to provide ongoing support for residents in private RCHDs.