The Hong Kong Society for the Blind

Annual Report 2015/16

Hand in Hand Sixty Years Envisaging A Better Future 

 

Vision

To provide services and opportunities to facilitate equal participation of people with visual impairment in Hong Kong

 

Patrons

Patron

The Honourable C.Y. Leung, GBM, GBS, JP

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 2015/16  (As at 31 March 2016)

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 Tam Ning

Mr Chong Chan Yau

Ms Winnie Kong Lai Wan

Dr Vincent Kwan Pun Fong

Mr Lawrence Lai Man Leung

Ms Ida Lam Choi Chu

Mrs Fanny Lam Fan Kit Fong

Mr Lam Wai Pong

Mr Benson Lo Tak Wing (since Oct 2015)

Mr Man Hong Lim

Mr Tang Kwong Po

Dr Nancy Yuen Shi Yin

Co-opted Members

Mr Peter Lam Chung Yun

Ex-officio Member

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

(Chief Executive)

 

Committees  (As at 31 March 2016)

 

Audit Committee

Chairman

Ms Winnie Kong Lai Wan

Members

Ms Christina Fung Sau Man

Mr Lawrence Lai Man Leung

Mr Paul A Moore

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

Dr 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

Members

Mr Colin Bosher

Ms Winnie Kong Lai Wan

Mr Lawrence Lai Man Leung

Mr Christopher Marquis

Ex-officio Members

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

Staff Representatives

Mr Joseph Cho Chun Wah

(Director, Clinical & Vocational Services)

Ms Phoenix Cheung Mei Fung (until Nov 2015)

Mr Sean Fong (since Dec 2015) 

(Factory Manager)

 

Finance & Administration Committee

Chairman

Mr Patrick Ng Wing Hang

Members

Dr Vincent Kwan Pun Fong

Mr Peter Lam Chung Yun

Ex-officio Members

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

Staff Representatives

Ms Kany Wong Kan Ying

(Director, Finance & Business Development)

Ms Fannie Wong Siu Fun

(Director, Human Resources & Administration)

 

Committees  (As at 31 March 2016)

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

Mr Lam Wai Pong

Mr Patrick Ng Wing Hang

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 Yu Hon Kong

Structural Engineer

Mr Ng Kam Tong

E & M Consultant

Mr Raymond Tam Kit Man

Project Management Team

Mr Ricky Ng Kwok Pui

Ex-officio Members

Miss Nancy Law Tak Yin

Ms Maureen Tam Ching Yi

 

Other Committees  (As at 31 March 2016)

 

Centralised Braille Production Centre Steering Committee

Chairman

Ms Amy Cheng Mi Bing

(Director, Rehabilitation Services)

Vice-Chairman

Mr Lai Chi Chiu

(Ebenezer School)

Members

Mr Lam Wing Shun

(Hong Kong Blind Union)

Ms Christine Ng

(Special Education Support Section 1, Education Bureau)

Ms Kammy Ng

(Special Education Support Section 1, Education Bureau)

Mr Siu Siu Hong

(Ebenezer School)

Observer

Ms Ho Yee Wan

(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 Leung Wai Pui

Mr Lo Keng Chi

Mr Mak Ping Man

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 Shirley Cheung Yuet Mei

(Ebenezer New Hope School)

Ms Choi Lui Yin

(Mental Health Association of Hong Kong Cornwall School)

Ms Celina Chung Suk Han

(Caritas Jockey Club Lok Yan School)

Mr Eddie Wong Kam Yuen

(The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf)

Staff Representatives

Ms Doreen Mui Siu Ping

(Director, Residential Services)

Ms Cansy Li Po Ling

(Superintendent, Morning Glory Day Activity Centre cum Hostel)

Ms Chan Wai Ping

(Social Worker, Rehabilitation Centre)

Ms Andria Cheung Wing Yan

(Deafblind Programme Officer)

 

Parents Resource Centre Advisory Committee

Chairman

Mr Edward Kwok Ho Lai

Members

Professor Kenneth Sin Kuen Fung

Mrs Ellen Yip Ng So Yue

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, Parents Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired Children)

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Chairman’s Foreword

The Hong Kong Society for the Blind (HKSB) has been providing multi-services to people with visual impairment. Apart from the hard work of our staff members, selfless contributions by volunteers, generous donations from the public, as well as support and financial assistance from the business sector are vital forces behind HKSB’s service expansion and continuous development. The services that volunteers have been giving assistance include visiting residential homes, escorting service users to medical appointments and shopping, organization of public education activities, exhibitions and birthday parties, employment support and training, production of Braille books, audio recordings and audio descriptions service, and outdoor and interest groups activities. 

 

As of 31 March 2016, there were 903 registered individual volunteers, 142 corporate volunteers and 97 corporate partners. In order to express our gratitude to all groups of volunteers for their kind support to HKSB and our service users, starting from 2007, we have been organizing Volunteers cum Corporate Partners Appreciation Ceremony on a biennial basis. Appreciation to donors have been included in the Ceremony as from 2013.

 

In the 2015 Volunteers, Donors cum Corporate Partners Appreciation Ceremony, commendations were given to 310 volunteers. In the two years 2013 and 2014, many individual volunteers had each accumulated over 400 service hours. One corporate volunteer had more than 800 service hours. In total, the service hours of individual and corporate volunteers in the past two years reached 54,488. Eleven corporate partners from business organizations and groups had also been commended for their efforts in encouraging staff members to take part in volunteer activities, support employment of the underprivileged, knowledge and skills transfer, and donation to the community.

 

One donor was awarded the Excellence Love Award+, 77 individuals and 32 groups received the Generous Giving Angel Award#, and 31 individuals and 18 groups were conferred the Long-term Giving Award*.

 

We would like to thank the Social Welfare Development Fund of the Social Welfare Department for their support to the development of “Volunteer and Donor Management System” in 2014. The new system started its live run in early 2016. We are now able to conduct volunteer matching services and develop volunteer training more efficiently.

 

Flag Day 2015 was held on 30 December 2015. We are grateful for the support from volunteers and donors. A total of 2,415 volunteers took part in selling flags. With their efforts and the support from various corporate partners and donors, we raised more than HK$1,500,000. The fund will be used to support projects that do not receive government subvention.

 

Centaline Wine Charity Run Carnival 2015 was held on 29 November 2015. We would like to thank Hong Kong Wine Judge Association for initiating the event, Centaline Club as the title sponsor and am730 in promoting the event. The sum of HK$400,000 raised will go to the Information Accessibility Centre to improve its library and audio description services for the visually impaired. Of the more than 2,000 runners who took part in the event, over 70 were visually impaired. The event was most meaningful in providing the opportunity for the visually impaired runners (with the assistance of guide runners) to compete with the sighted ones.

 

It seems impossible for a visually impaired person to ride a bicycle. However, they are able to enjoy the ride with the assistance of a sighted guide. With sponsorship from the HSBC District Community Programme, a series of tandem activities were held between May and August of 2015. Audio description was provided by the sighted guide about the scenery along the way. This allowed the visually impaired to explore the community and promotes social inclusion. Eight visually impaired members and 12 sighted guides took part in the event. 

 

HKSB has been serving the visually impaired for 60 years. On 6 March 2016, the HKSB 60th Anniversary Kick-Off Ceremony cum Carnival was held in apm in Kwun Tong. To promote social inclusion, the visually impaired and the sighted together gave performances in singing and musical instruments. Apart from this, Optometrists provided on-site vision screening services to raise public awareness of the importance of eye health. There were experiential game booths and exhibition on HKSB’s development. Some of the public education activities were sponsored by the Lions Club of Happy Valley and some of their members also helped out at the event as volunteers. 

 

With the sponsorship of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the construction of Jockey Club Yan Hong Building at the site of the former Yuen Long Home for the Aged Blind was completed in early 2016. Apart from providing 80 residential care places for the aged blind residents of the former Yuen Long Home, the new building also allows incorporation of the Bradbury Home and expansion of the supported hostel to 40 places. For the first time we provide 40 self-financing residential places for the elderly in the community who are in need of residential care.

 

The provision of diversified services to the visually impaired is essential in promoting a harmonious and inclusive society.  On behalf of HKSB, I would like to thank various departments of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Community Chest of Hong Kong, various charity foundations, individual donors, as well as individual and corporate volunteers for their generous support to enable us to continue to be innovative in providing needed services for the visually impaired. On behalf of the Council, I would also like to thank the Chief Executive and all staff members for their enthusiasm and diligence in serving the visually impaired.

 

With staunch support from and close collaboration with different sectors, HKSB will continue to work for the well-being of the visually impaired.

 

+ This award is the highest honour for individual donors. The awarded donor has actively supported many HKSB services in the past years.  

# Total donations of a donor in the past five years of HK$10,000 to HK$1,000,000.

* More than five donations of HK$1,000 or more each in the past five years.

 

Nancy Law

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Chief Executive’s Report

Established in 1956, The Hong Kong Society for the Blind celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 2016. Over the past six decades, a range of services have been developed to meet the constantly-changing needs of our service users, mainly the visually impaired. With support from the Social Welfare Development Fund, we were able to kick-start an Organizational Review and Strategic Development Study in mid-2014 to revisit our vision, mission and values to ascertain a true reflection of the needs, concerns and expectations of all our stakeholders. The study also analyzed our various services to work out which services should be maintained, which ones should be let go, integrated, or launched to better cater for the diversified needs and aspirations of our various stakeholders, and deliver better services with higher cost efficiency. Last but not least, ways to develop our human capital and motivate staff members to move with the senior management were also included in the scope of the study.

 

The consultancy team reviewed documents of our various services and conducted individual interviews with managerial staff members, Council Chairman and Chairmen of the Committees. They organized focus group meetings and one-to-one interviews with other stakeholders including service users, volunteers, donors and working partners. A final report was completed in late December 2015. Six strategic directions and more than 57 recommendations for improvement on operational efficiency had been suggested. 

 

After careful discussion among the management team, two strategic directions were adopted as the main themes for the Three Year Programme Plan running from 2016/17 to 2018/19. They were: a) Shape “One HKSB” to ensure impact and results of our services for the visually impaired; and b) Strengthen the mission and culture of customer-centric services among staff members.

 

Under the first strategic direction, the provision of one-stop services would be promoted via better interfacing among different service sections to meet individual needs as far as possible. Joint programmes among different service departments will be encouraged in the coming three years to achieve better service outcomes. Besides, the management understands the importance of nurturing a customer-centric service culture in HKSB by strengthening staff training, and to encourage regular collection of user feedback so as to improve the quality and delivery of services.

 

Donors are valuable assets to HKSB. Over the past 60 years, apart from the basic government financial support to our subvented services and project funding from The Community Chest of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, we relied heavily on donations from individuals and corporates, or sponsorships from various private trusts and charitable foundations for launching pilot projects and new programmes to meet the changing demands of our service users or to fill service gaps. 

 

Subsequent to the development of a Donors Management System with funding support from the Social Welfare Development Fund Phase II, a consultancy firm was engaged to produce a protocol for Donors Relationship Management in 2015. The study was completed in late 2015 and the final report released in early 2016. Having carried out an analysis of our donors’ current profiles and interviews with several stakeholders including a number of regular donors, the consultant recommended that HKSB should develop its long-term fund raising strategy by investing more resources in corporate, institution and individual donors, and to utilize a simple and precise communication strategy to strengthen our image as a “philanthropic organization.” Besides, HKSB should set up an office that is responsible for drawing up the organization’s fundraising strategy, building fundraising culture, and enhancing its capability to pool resources for effective and meaningful use.

 

The two studies shed light on our way ahead. We are looking forward to strengthening our capacity to better assist our service users in leading independent lives and contributing to the society, and setting new milestones as we advance.

 

Maureen Tam

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Highlights of Events and Achievements

 

Events Highlights

HKSB 60th Anniversary Kick-off Ceremony cum Carnival

2016.3.6 @ apm, Kwun Tong

To celebrate our 60th Anniversary, the Kick-off Carnival was held at the apm in Kwun Tong. We were much honored to have Mr. Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, GBS, JP,  the Secretary for Labour and Welfare Bureau, to officiate at the Ceremony. A “White Cane Flash Mob Dance” performed by a group of sighted and visually impaired dancers kick-started the Ceremony. More than ten groups of sighted and visually impaired performers also took part in singing and musical instruments performances to put across the message of inclusion.

On site, there was also public vision screening held to increase their awareness on eye health. Experiential game booths were set up to let the public to experience different kinds of visual impairment. These activities were welcomed by the public.

 

The 40th Hong Kong International Film Festival - Audio Description Awareness Day

2016.3.26 @ UA , City Plaza

We had made tremendous efforts in the promotion of audio description for the visually impaired starting from 2009 onwards. It was anticipated that the “Audio Description Awareness Day” held at the 40th Hong Kong International Film Festival would help foster the creation of a fair world for the visually impaired –– a world in which they are able to watch first-run movies in cinemas just like their sighted counterparts. A movie premiere show of “Weeds on Fire” with audio description and an audio description seminar were held on the Awareness Day. The sighted audiences were able to experience audio description when watching the movie together with the visually impaired. Ms Erica Li, a multi-media creator, movie director Mr Adrian Kwan, and screenwriter Ms Hannah Cheung were invited to share their experience in supporting audio description at the seminar on “The Magic Power of Audio Description : Equal Participation in Cinemas”.

 

The Micro Film “By Your Side” and HKSB New Website Launch

2016.3

The micro film “By Your Side” was based on the true stories of how two visually impaired persons overcame their challenges in life with confidence and through appropriate rehabilitation training. “By your side” aims to put across the positive message that the visually impaired are able to change their lives and realize their dreams, just like anyone.

The HKSB website has had a face-lift. The new website was awarded the Gold Award in the “2016 Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme” organized by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Information on the website has been enriched and the site map improved for browsing. Please visit our new website listed below.

 

2015 Volunteers, Donors cum Corporate Partners Appreciation Ceremony

2015.5.8

540 volunteers have selflessly contributed 54,488 hours of service in the past two years to assisting the visually impaired.

We are grateful to all our volunteers and donors who had contributed generously to our service users, so that they could enjoy suitable services and enriched lives. In order to express our gratitude, the “Volunteers, Donors cum Corporate Partners Appreciation Ceremony” is organized every two years. In 2013 and 2014, the total number of service hours devoted by the 310 individuals and five corporate volunteer groups reached 39,000 hours.  In addition, 11 commercial companies and organizations were given appreciation awards for being our corporate partners. As of donors, 32 groups and 77 individuals received the Generous Giving Angel Award; and 18 groups and 31 individuals received the Long-term Giving Award. A dedicated donor was conferred the Excellence Love Award.

 

Tandem Activities with Audio Description

2015.6 – 2015.8

To prepare for the Tandem Charity Ride to be held in November 2016, a series of tandem training activities were organized between June and August 2015 with financial support from the HSBC District Community Programme. Each visually impaired person travelled to the countryside by riding a tandem led by a sighted guide. The guides described the surrounding environment using the techniques of audio description to help their visually impaired partners to have a deeper understanding about the scenery along the way.

The key activity “Tandem Eco Tour to Lung Mei Beach” was organized on 2 August 2015. This was the first ever activity that involved tandem ride, eco tour and audio description. A total of 12 visually impaired and sighted riders joined the unforgettable trip!

 

Centaline Wine Charity Run Carnival 2015

2015.11.29 @ Hong Kong Science Park

We were thrilled to be one of the co-organizers of the Charity Run.  The funds raised has been donated to our Information Accessibility Centre to upgrade the library and promote the development of audio description services for the visually impaired. More than 2,000 runners from different groups took part. Amongst them, more than 70 visually impaired runners, led by their guide runners, raced alongside the sighted runners, making the event a meaningful one. The participants enjoyed the wine and handicraft-making in the carnival held after the race and had a lot of fun.

 

Flag Day 2015

2015.12.30

Salute to all the volunteers and donors! We have recruited 2,415 volunteers to assist in the flag-selling and raised more than HK$1,500,000 to support some of our projects that do not enjoy government subsidies.

 

Achievement Highlights

We were encouraged to be given recognitions by different sectors and have received numerous awards during the year. We will keep up the effort to provide more comprehensive services to the visually impaired.

 

Happy Organisation 2015

18 Districts Caring Employers 2015

Partner Employer Award 2015/16

Good MPF Employer 2015/16

2015-16 “Talent-Wise Employment Charter and Inclusive Organizations Recognition Scheme”

 

Awardee  Resource Centre for the Deafblind

•    2015 Best Practice Awards in Social Welfare

 

Awardee  Health Massage and Treatment Centre

•    Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise Project 2015

•    2015 Caring Enterprise and Outstanding Enterprise

•    The Sixth Hong Kong Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Awards

•    Sisters BeautyPro Beauty Entrepreneur Award

•    Outstanding Social Caring Organization Award

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Rehabilitation Services

195 trainees received rehabilitation training

Provided 75 times communicator services to the deafblind

 

Rehabilitation Centres

 

Enrolment and Public Education

The Rehabilitation Centres have been providing comprehensive rehabilitative training to the visually impaired in Hong Kong. As at 31 March 2016, there were 214 visually impaired persons on the waiting list of the two Rehabilitation Centres in Kowloon and the New Territories. In the past year, a total of 77 trainees have completed the rehabilitation training, and 118 trainees have finished route orientation training. The Centres also provided 56 sighted guide talks to 2,520 participants from schools, organizations and the public.

Rehabilitation Programme for the Newly Visually Impaired

 

The Rehabilitation Programme for the Newly Visually Impaired has been launched since July 2015 with the funding support from the Community Chest of Hong Kong. Around 40 newly blind persons have received 26 hours of home-based training and made use of our home modification services. The programme aims to assist the visually impaired to go through grieving periods after the loss of vision, overcome their psychological, physical and emotional disruptions, and build up healthy and positive self-images through professional counseling by social workers. The programme has also employed a graduate of the Centres as Training Assistant to serve as a role model and provide peer support to the visually impaired. The outcomes are encouraging.

 

Looking Forward

In the coming year, the Centres will continue to encourage trainees’ participation in the Centres’ affairs and to promote staff professional growth so as to provide a comprehensive and quality rehabilitative training to the visually impaired in Hong Kong.

 

Resource Centre for the Deafblind

Five festival activities were organized for the deafblind members and their families. A total of 207 participants took part. Members enjoyed the sports programmes of the day camp and Yoga practices. Besides, thanks to donation from HSBC District Community Programme, 84 members took part in horticultural and organic farming activities and an environmental protection programme. The Hong Kong and China Gas Company also sponsored 24 members and 24 of their family members and communicator guides to participate in the “Stargaze Camp for All and the Blind 2015” on 17 October 2015. Participants were fascinated by the world of astronomy.

 

The Tenth Anniversary of Resource Centre for the Deafblind

Time flies and Resource Centre for the Deafblind entered its 11th year in 2015/16. In the past decade, the number of deafblind members has increased from 20 to more than 140. A celebration was held on 20 February 2016 with nearly 100 members, relatives, volunteers, communicator guides and committee members attended. They shared touching stories about this unique and essential service.

 

Deafblind Training Programme

Thanks to the unfailing support from the Community Chest of Hong Kong, rehabilitation programmes for the deafblind, which covers communication, orientation and mobility training, adaptive aids consultancy services and service referrals, were continued.

 

Rev Dr Cyril Axelrod, the Honourable Consultant of Deafblind Rehabilitation Programme, along with Ms Amy Tso, Chairperson of Advisory Committee and Ms Andria Cheung, our Programme Officer, participated in the Deafblind International 16th World Conference in Bucharest, Romania from 25 to 30 May 2015. They chaired a seminar to introduce our services to the deafblind to participants from around the world. After the conference, they also paid a visit to deafblind services in UK.

 

From 18 to 21 January 2016, nine staff members, including Programme Officer of the Resource Centre for the Deafblind joined the Study Tour to Kyoto and Osaka, Japan to learn more about their elderly residential services, rehabilitation services for the visually impaired and services for the deafblind.

 

In addition, Rev Dr Cyril Axelrod visited Hong Kong from 15 to 26 February 2016. He met Mr David Leung, JP, Commissioner for Rehabilitation, to articulate the needs of the deafblind in the community and the importance of communicator guides in Hong Kong.

 

Communicator Guide Service for the Deafblind

The three-year “Pilot Project on Communicator Guide Service for the Deafblind,” supported by S.K. Yee Medical Foundation since 2013/14, concluded with remarkable achievements. In view of the effectiveness of the programme in helping the deafblind to lead independent and dignified lives, the project was awarded  the “2015 Best Practice Awards in Social Welfare” by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.

 

With new funding granted by the Community Chest of Hong Kong, “Communicator Guide Service for the Deafblind” will continue from 2016/17 for another three years. The Certificate Courses for Communicator Guide for the Deafblind will be organized to train communicator guides in the provision of escort for medical follow-up, shopping and assistance in attending social activities.

 

Service Statistics

As at 31 March 2016

 

Rehabilitation Centre

No. of training session conducted	27,592
No. of trainee served by subjects	4,113
No. of individual assessment conducted	449
No. of attendance in outdoor activities	441
No. of site inspection	9

Resource Centre for the Deafblind

Trainees’ age profile

20 or Below	25%	35
21-30	11%	15
31-40	6%	9
41-50	9%	12
51-60	18%	25
61-70	17%	24
71-80	3%	4
81or Above	11%	17

 

Communicator Guide Service for the Deafblind

Total no. of registered communicators	46
No. of communicator service provided	75
No. of deafblind service users	25

 

Deafblind Training Programme

Total no. of trainees living in hostel	9
Total no. of trainees living in community	12
Total no. of trainees	21

 

Certificate Course for the Communicator Guide for the Deafblind

Elementary (7th batch)

No. of participants	20
No. of qualified communicator	18

Intermediate (4th batch)

No. of participants	11
No. of qualified communicator	9

Advance (3rd batch)

No. of participants	12
No. of qualified communicator	12

 

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Residential Services

 

568 persons received residential services

 

The “Five-E” objectives were set for the Residential Services under the Three Year Programme Plan running from 2013/14 to 2015/16. The Five Es include: Enrichment, Empowerment, Enhancement, Engagement, and Evolution. All the residential homes were able to develop and execute programmes that meet with the five objectives in the past three years. Substantial achievements have been made amongst individual services to cater for the various needs of our service users. Major highlights are as follows:-

 

Enrichment of Ageing Programme for Clients with Multiple Disabilities and Visual Impairment

Today the average life expectancy of adults with intellectual disability is growing. Most of their health conditions starts to deteriorate from the age of 40. Therefore, Morning Glory Day Activity Centre cum Hostel is committed to changing its service mode in order to meet the needs of our aging service users. Apart from the Visiting Medical Practitioner Scheme and Integrated Rehabilitation Training Programme, we have reengineered our services to cater for the aging service users’ needs in oral and dental care, life education, community and social wellbeing, welfare and family support, community transportation and escort services. We are committed to work closely with family members and carers of the service users to promote positive living and maintain their quality of life throughout the ageing process.

 

Empowerment of the Visually Impaired with Multiple Disabilities

The I-Shop in the West Wing lobby of the HKSB Headquarters was opened in August 2014 to provide training to persons with multiple disabilities including visual impairment. Its aim is to promote “Inclusion”, ”Interaction” and “I-can” spirits, and to nurture their positive attitude towards life. The trainees have gained high job satisfaction and built up self-confidence through interaction with customers.

 

Enhancement of Professional Skills and Knowledge

To enhance professional development of staff and services, a Staff Exchange Tour to Taiwan was organized in October 2015. Director of Residential Services and Superintendent of Tuen Mun Home also joined the agency’s Study Tour to Kyoto and Osaka, Japan in January 2016. These tours served to broaden their horizons on quality residential services and dementia care for the elderly, rehabilitation services for the visually impaired, and services for the deafblind. All these study visits brought insights for further enhancement in the delivery and development of services for the aged blind and deafblind.

 

Partnership for Excellence Research Projects

The Hong Kong Society for the Blind signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, The University of Hong Kong on 25 August 2015. The two organizations will be partners in a five-year community research project running from 2015 to 2020.

 

The research partnership programme will conduct pilot research via a multidisciplinary approach, involving speech therapists, social workers, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The aim is to advance the assessment and related therapy services in the areas of communication and feeding /swallowing or related clinical services for the aged blind, and to increase exchange with professionals in the region.

 

Engagement of Staff and Service Users

Team-building, staff training, occupation safety and health programmes were conducted throughout the past year. The “Mentor Scheme” was adopted by Homes in which experienced staff members helped to coach new employees. Staff recognition and appreciation schemes were also implemented. The “Happy Work Place” project in 2015/16 was conducted to boost staff morale and enhance their commitment and sense of belongings.  Communication channels between the Homes, the clients and their family members were strengthened to improve services.

 

Evolution with the Completion of Yuen Long Home Redevelopment Project

The Yuen Long Home Redevelopment Project was completed with the commencement of the newly built Jockey Club Yan Hong Building in March 2016. The residents of Yuen Long Home for the Aged Blind moved into the new building in May 2016 amid much joy and great satisfaction. Apart from providing 80 residential care places for the current aged blind residents, a “Home of Wellness” is newly added to provide 40

self-financing residential places at the Yan Hong Building. There will also be an in-situ expansion of former Bradbury Home from 10 to 40 places for adults with multiple disabilities in need of supported hostel services to form the new “Home of Delight.”

The Grand Opening followed by an Open Day of “The Hong Kong Society for the Blind Jockey Club Yan Hong Building” will be held as the last celebration programme of the 60th Anniversary of the Society in December 2016.

 

Looking Forward

The following four strategic objectives are adopted for the next Three Year Programme Plan from 2016/17 to 2018/19:

 

Promotion of  “One HKSB”

Integrated rehabilitation staff team comprising physiotherapists and occupational therapists will be formed to carry out collaborative projects with the universities. There will be staff open days for residential services to promote exchange; staff training on audio description and communication skills will be organized to enhance services for the visually impaired; and internal collaboration with other departments and external cooperation with stakeholders will be promoted.

 

Strengthen Customer-Centric Culture

The main focus will be improvement on basic services to provide client-centered quality care on dressing, food, living and mobility. A new service mode will be introduced to further enhance our Dementia Care Services. A new assessment tool for elderly with visual impairment will be developed.

 

Service Quality Control and Assurance

Inter-home Service Quality Standard audit will be conducted. Risk management will be introduced to engage different work teams to draw up risk indicators and checklists. Assessment tools and manual on nursing care will be standardised.

 

Encourage Innovation and Use of Information Technology

A demo home for barrier-free environment will be established at Yan Hong Building using new technologies. There will be a Dementia Floor with various therapeutic training rooms and a sensory garden. RFID anti-wandering system will be applied. A pilot project supported by HK R&D Centre for Logistics & Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies will make use of iPads to improve orientation for the visually impaired residents in daily activities.

 

Service Statistics

Enrolment in each of the Home as at 31 March 2016

Home	Male	Female	Total
Bradbury Care and Attention Home for the Aged Blind	19	30	49
Kowloon Home for the Aged Blind	N/A	72	72
Yuen Long Home for the Aged Blind Care and Attention Section	31	28	59
Yuen Long Home for the Aged Blind Infirmary Section	6	6	12
Jockey Club Tuen Mun Home for the Aged Blind Care and Attention Section	68	124	192
Jockey Club Tuen Mun Home for the Aged Blind Infirmary Section	6	21	27
Morning Glory DAC cum Hostel Day Training Centre	33	29	62
Morning Glory DAC cum Hostel Hostel	32	30	62
Bradbury Home	4	5	9
Joyful Home	5	3	8

 

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Employment Services

 

Visually impaired masseurs / masseuses provided 33,688 hours of service to customers

214 persons were being employed at the Factory for the Blind

 

The Career Support and Development Centre

 

Introductory Massage Training Course

An introductory massage training course was conducted in November 2015. Seven visually impaired participants completed the training and have enrolled into the one-year Elementary Massage Training Course in January 2016.

 

Piano Tuning and Basic Repair

With financial support from the Community Chest of Hong Kong and the Chan Dang Social Services Foundation, the third visually impaired trainee had completed the Piano Tuning and Basic Repair Course and passed the Elementary Piano Tuning, Maintenance and Repair Certificate Examination in October 2015. The graduate is now employed as a piano-tuner by the Factory for the Blind to  provide piano tuning and simple repair service to individual and organizational customers. Two more trainees have started their training in July 2016 and are expected to sit for the examination in October 2017.

 

Employment of  Visually Impaired Members

Over the past year, 40 visually impaired job-seekers received job placement and engaged in massage, customer service, clerical work, fund-raising ambassador and cleaning service etc. Among them, 37.5% possessed academic qualification of tertiary level or above, 37.5% were in the age group of 31-50.

 

Exhibition and Demonstration of Daily Living Aids and Appliances for the Visually Impaired

Eight exhibitions and demonstrations were held in the past year to enhance the public’s understanding of the needs of the visually impaired. The participants included parents, special school teachers and volunteers.

 

One-stop Service

The project “Recycling of Second-Hand Piano” was launched in the second quarter of 2016, with the aim of providing more job opportunities for the qualified visually impaired piano tuners. It will become part of an inclusive musical centre project to be kicked off in 2017, which will provide more services ranging from musical training, performances, and repair and maintenance of musical instruments, so that disabled persons with different talents can achieve their full potential.

 

Customer-Centric Project

A one-year elementary massage training course will be conducted in the beginning of 2017 for visually impaired members of the Centre and workers at the Factory for the Blind. It will give Factory workers new skill sets  and increase their competitiveness in the open job market.

 

Factory for the Blind

 

In the past year the Factory for the Blind  has provided diversified work and training opportunities to its 214 service users to facilitate their social inclusion and full participation in the community. Through six different sections, namely assembly, customer services, sewing, storekeeping, filing tag and paper box production, service users were provided with the most suitable types of work and training.

 

The total sales of the Factory was HK$14,482,946 in 2015/16 with a slight increase for the four sections of sewing, assembly, filing tag and customer services. Sales income of the paper box section declined by 6.6% due to a drop in demand for paper boxes caused by the economic slowdown.

 

Some enhancement measures in production were taken under the support of a One-off Time-defined Supplementary Grant from the Social Welfare Department. These include the acquisition of a new filing tag production machine and improvement in  work safety  for various work sections.

 

Aging is becoming a critical issue for the Factory as 70% of our service users are over 40 years old. Health problems such as high blood pressure, gout and others chronic diseases are becoming more common. In view of this, our nursing staff has strengthened health education and the monitoring of the health conditions for our service users. Various assessments were held in 2015/16 and will be organized again in the coming year.

 

Future Developments

The Factory strives to provide “customer-centric” services to all stakeholders, and will constantly review its services and delivery mode to meet the diverse needs of our service users. In the coming year, the Factory will strengthen communication with service users. A survey on satisfaction levels will be conducted to gather information and help us formulate more effective service plans.

 

We believe that every service user has unique potentials. Therefore, numerous interest groups will be organized to explore their strengths. The Factory will also develop more work sections and provide appropriate trainings that align with the needs of the employment market, thus equipping our service users with the skills for open employment.

 

Health Massage and Treatment Centre

 

Business Overview

The S.K. Yee Health Massage and Treatment Centre and Bernard van Zuiden Health Massage and Treatment Centre were able to earn a surplus for the year. The problem of manpower shortage was also resolved. During the past year, a total of 23 visually impaired staff members including masseurs/masseuses, beauty masseuse and massage assistant were employed.

 

Professional Recognitions and Awards

The Centre received a number of awards in recognition of its excellent performance in professional services, social care and support for the visually impaired staff members. These awards included being named an “Outstanding Social Caring Organization” by the Social Enterprise Research Institute under their Social Caring Pledge Scheme, which is endorsed by Nobel Laureate Professor Harald zur Hausen. We were also awarded the Sixth HK Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Awards - Silver Award (Social Enterprise Category), which certified our contributions to corporate social responsibilities. The Centre has again received the “18 Districts Caring Employers Award 2015” in recognition of our continuous employment of the visually impaired masseurs to give them chance to show their work potentials.

 

The beauty services in our two Centres enjoyed good reviews and support from customers and suppliers. The Beauty Entrepreneur 2015 (Diamond) presented by Sisters BeautyPro recognised our excellence in entrepreneur spirit and contribution to the beauty industry. In recognition of the mobile massage team’s efforts in creating job opportunities for the visually impaired, the Social Welfare Department’s “Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise” Project had named us “Loving SE” and “Outstanding SE”. All these awards affirmed our professionalism and boosted our morale in providing quality services to the customers.

 

Public Education and Promotion

To promote the development of social enterprises, the Centre has joined the “Ethical Consumption” scheme with over 100 social enterprises to encourage the public to change the society by purchasing products/services provided by social enterprises. The Centre also took part in the“1-Minute Phone Videos on SEs” competition aimed at enhancing young people’s understanding on social enterprises while promoting such organizations through social media.

 

Customer Service Enhancement

A Customer Satisfaction Survey was conducted in June 2015. Two hundred sets of questionnaires were received, with 95% of customers indicating that they were satisfied with our  overall service quality.

 

Future Developments

To strive for service excellence in enhancing customer wellness, renovations, service re-engineering and replacement of aged company vehicles will be carried out in the coming years. We aim to provide an excellent service environment for customers and a safe and barrier free working environment for our visually impaired staff members, thus enabling them to fully utilise their talents.

 

Service Statistics

As at 31 March 2016

 

The Career Support and Development Centre

Employment Service

Number of job seekers registered	464
Number of job seekers already gainfully employed	37
Number of new job seekers	26
Number of counseling service/consultations	4,024
Number of job vacancy referrals	520
Number of interviews under escort	112

 

Computer Zone and Self-study Rooms

Number of facility users  990

 

Aids and Appliances Service

Number of opening sessions	585
Number of user attendances	4,220
Number of sales	2,522

 

Job Support and Training Activities

Number of loan-out aids/appliances	84
Number of participants	57
Number of training classes	9
Number of training sessions	42
Number of training programmes	7
Number of attendance of programmes	54

 

Health Massage and Treatment Centres

No. of Visually Impaired staff	23
No. of Sighted staff	14
Total no. of staff	37

 

	Mobile Massage Team	Health Massage and Treatment Centres
Total No. of Customers	3,048	10,037
Total No. of Service Hours	1,621	32,067

 

Factory for the Blind

 

No. of service users in each section

Assembling	151
Paper Box	35
Sewing	13
Filing Tag	8
Storekeeping	6
Customer Service	1

  

Classification of service users

Visually Impaired	31
Hearing Impaired	2
Intellectually Disabled	105
Ex-mentally Ill	74
Physical Handicapped	2
Total	214

 

Age distribution of service users

20 or Below	0.5%	1
21-30	12.6%	27
31-40	17.8%	38
41-50	32.6%	70
51-60	27.6%	59
61 or Above	8.9%	19

 

Sales Proceeds (HK$)

Paper Box	7,576,511
Customer Service	2,224,695
Sewing	2,088,482
Filing Tag	1,464,738
Assembling	1,128,520
Total	14,482,946

 

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Barrier Free Facilities and Adaptive Equipment Services

Produced 145 pcs tactile maps

Sold 302 pcs adaptive equipment

 

Barrier Free Access (HK) Limited

 

In the year of 2015/16, Barrier Free Access (HK) Limited (BFAHK) has achieved impressive results in the construction of a barrier-free environment, research and development of wireless navigation technology, and the promotion of social inclusion. With support of various stakeholders and partners, BFAHK will further develop its services and products to strive for an accessible community for the visually impaired.

 

Achievements

BFAHK has continued to make great contribution in the construction of an accessible environment. It had designed and supplied tactile maps for over 100 premises, including shopping malls, MTR stations, parks, recreational areas, and government facilities. In order to enhance cost effectiveness, BFAHK had purchased a UV printer to produce braille signage and tactile maps of higher quality at lower costs.

 

BFAHK participated in the second phase development of RFID Navigation System for Visually Impaired, which was launched by the Hong Kong R&D Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies (LSCM). Advice was provided on the design principles of the system and its mobile application. A new RFID navigation system will be installed in the new Yan Hong Building to help strengthen the mobility of the visually impaired residents. BFAHK will help to coordinate the trial by providing training to the residents and collecting their feedbacks to the usage of the system.

 

In order to promote social inclusion and equal participation of the visually impaired, BFAHK had modified three popular board games. A total of six inclusive board game sessions were held at the HKSB headquarters and various mainstream schools, so that the visually impaired students could play with sighted volunteers and students. The sessions were well-received.

In the past year, the BFAHK Tertiary Education Students Aids and Appliances Subsidy Scheme assisted two visually impaired tertiary students in the purchase of adaptive equipment to facilitate their studies. The OCGIO granted the Web Accessibility Recognition Scheme Award to BFAHK for the third consecutive year to commend the adoption of effective accessibility design in its website, which promotes easy web access for all. 

 

Future Developments

In the coming years, BFAHK will focus on the development of the RFID navigation system. It will invest more capital and manpower to collaborate with LSCM to further enhance the system’s performance and extend its functions to help the visually impaired in different aspects of their lives. BFAHK will liaise with government departments and public organizations to promote the installation of the wireless navigation system in public premises, transportation and facilities, so that mobility of the visually impaired will be improved.

 

Adaptive Equipment Service

 

The objective of Adaptive Equipment Service (AES) is to supply suitable adaptive equipment, user training, and equipment repair and maintenance services to persons with visual impairments, so that they can stay active in work, school and community, and lead quality lives.

 

The sales for 2015/16 was HK$3,674,166.

 

Exhibitions were organized with the Career Support and Development Centre for volunteers, ophthalmologists, optometrists and special school teachers. These activities helped more people, especially the professionals, to understand how daily living aids, together with advanced adaptive technology, could meet the different needs of the visually impaired. A series of demonstrations on new products were conducted for existing service users and potential customers. The new products included portable video magnifiers, and desktop CCTVs with bigger screen and high definition image for users with severe visual impairments.

 

To provide better services, AES will collaborate with other departments of HKSB and open a showroom at the Headquarters on daily living aids and adaptive equipment. Customers will be able to choose from a wide variety of equipment and enjoy more comprehensive services.

 

Service Statistics

As at 31 March 2016

 

Barrier Free Access (HK) Limited

No. of tactile maps designed and produced (pieces)	145
No. of customers served (nos)	380
No. of orders (nos)	980

 

Adaptive Equipment Service

Units of Equipment Sold	302
Maintenance and Repair Services Provided (number of job orders)	129

 

Adaptive Equipment Sales Proportion

Repairs and Maintenance	129
Braille and Speech Devices	69
Magnification Software	60
Portable Magnifiers	74
Embossers	6
Desktop CCTVs	43
ScreenReader Software	50

 

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Eye Care and Low Vision Services

 

Dispensed 25,263 pcs low vision devices to developing countries

Provided 45,571 times eye care consultation services

Provided 1,300 times home visit for low vision screening and home safety improvement services

 

The General Eye and Low Vision Centre

 

The General Eye and Low Vision Centre provided over 45,000 quality optometric and ophthalmological consultations and more than 1,300 major eye surgeries at low cost in 2015/16.

 

Training and Public Education

As an internationally renowned service and training centre in low vision, the Centre provided clinical training to final year optometry students of the school of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, ophthalmologists at government hospitals and other local and overseas service providers and institutions.

 

Some of the more distinctive trainings and public programmes conducted by the Centre in 2015/16 include:

 

The “Teachers Training Course on Supporting Learning Needs of Students with Cortical Visual Impairment” was co-organized with the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired. It was held in January 2016, during which 30 teachers and therapists learnt how to teach and train students with cerebral visual impairment.

 

Partnering with the Education Bureau, a one-day seminar on supportive services and resources for students with visual impairment was organized in December 2015 for teachers with visually impaired students in mainstream schools. The teachers were equipped with the latest information and knowledge to enhance their abilities in assisting these students.

 

A new one-year project to provide optometric and ophthalmological services to members of The Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association commenced in December 2015.

A study on how to make signage at shopping malls more visible and accessible to persons with low vision was started in June 2015.

 

Comprehensive Home- and Community-Based Low Vision Rehabilitation Services to People with Low Vision in Hong Kong (CLR) Project

 

We have carried on with the meaningful CLR project which was funded by the Community Chest of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Optometrist and occupational therapist of the project paid over 1,300 home visits to elderly persons with low vision to improve their abilities in leading independent lives and home safety.

 

Surgical and Consultation Subsidies to the Needy

With generous donations from the S.K. Yee Medical Foundation, the Centre provided subsidized cataract surgeries to restore the eye sight of 26 patients with financial difficulties. Two thousand one hundred and twelve patients living on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance had 50% of their consultation fees waived. These special arrangements helped to improve the visual and functional abilities of the poor and allowed them to regain independence and enjoy better quality of life.

 

Customer-Centric Programme

To further enhance the comprehensiveness of our vision rehabilitation services, the Centre will recruit social worker in the coming year to provide psychosocial support to low vision patients. The Centre will also establish a more efficient patient referral system to enable service users to quickly obtain daily living aids and adaptive aids to overcome the difficulties arising from sight loss .

 

Vision 2020 - Low Vision Resource Centre

 

The Centre has continued to play a key role in the supply of low vision devices and assessment equipment to developing countries around the world. In the past year, we have sent over 25,000 pieces of devices and instruments to 35 countries in seven regions.

The Centre has reviewed its catalog with assistance from the technical committee of the Low Vision Working Group of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. As a result, we will increase the scope of supply in daily living aids and appliances for the visually impaired in the near future. The Centre has also experimented in the production  a number of some vision assessment materials in an attempt to have better quality control, and reduce the cost and time of production in a long run. The aim is to manufacture products of better quality and at a more affordable price for our service users.

 

Service Statistics

As at 31 March 2016

 

Eye Care and Low Vision Services

General Eye

	Total No. of Patient Attendance
No. of ophthalmic consultations	23,738
No. of optometric consultations- (including 531 low vision cases)	21,833
No. of major eye surgery	1,341

 

Vision 2020 - Low Vision Resource Centre

No. of low vision devices dispensed to developing countries  25,263 Pcs

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Education and Community Support Services

 

8,512 participants joined public education programmes

307,201 virtual visits of Tele-digital Library Service for the Visually Impaired

 

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 with the aspiration to provide more up-to-date and diverse information. On top of producing braille books, braille eBooks, magazines, newspaper, and reservation system websites, the pilot programme on Braille Audio eBook production has become part of the routine services in the previous year with the support from The Community Chest of Hong Kong. By utilizing the braille/text-to-speech technology, the service can provide more audio books on top of traditional recorded books. 

 

Last year, CBPC had explored the feasibility of applying the technique and experience gained over the years in text scanning and OCR as well as eBook and audio book production into the production of print-text eBooks, so that visually impaired readers could read these eBooks with computer screen reader programme. CBPC will make further attempt in the provision of print-text eBooks to meet the demand for different reading modes amongst visually impaired readers in the coming year.

 

Other than upgrading hardware and software to support CBPC’s development, an Audio Description Skills Training Workshop on Illustrations for Textbooks will be conducted for the Braille Book production staff to improve their skills on book image descriptions.

Information Accessibility Centre

 

Centaline Wine Charity Run Carnival 2015

The Information Accessibility Centre (IAC) organized a fund-raising event, “Centaline Wine Charity Run Carnival 2015” on 29 November 2015, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Wine Judges Association and am730, with Centaline Property and Centaline Club as title sponsors. After deducting the operation costs, the event raised HK$400,000. It will be used to enhance IAC’s library and audio description services.

We were grateful and touched by the enthusiastic participation by our visually impaired service users and volunteers. Over 75 pairs of visually impaired runners and their guide-runners joined the Charity Run. Also, over 50 service users helped to raise fund for the enhancement of IAC’s services. Altogether, we mobilised over 300 volunteers to help in the event.

 

Enhancement of the Tele-digital Library Services for theVisually Impaired and the Library Management System

Access to newspapers, magazines, audio books and information through IAC’s Tele-digital Library has been an important part of our service users’ lives since its establishment in 2003. As the Tele-digital Library System and Library Management System had been in use for a number of years, a task group was formed in the past year to explore the enhancement of the two systems. Based on the analysis of our service users’ needs and consultations with IAC Users’ Committee members, we had come up with a system enhancement plan which would be implemented when fund available.

 

Besides, we have invited Professor Steve Ching, Special Adviser to the Provost of the City University of Hong Kong, to be the IAC’s Honorary Library Service Consultant. With years of experience as the University Librarian, Professor Ching has extensive knowledge in library management. He is very keen in improving library services for the visually impaired. We trust that his expertise will contribute enormously to the refinement of our existing library services.

 

Promotion of Audio Description at the 40th Hong Kong International Film Festival

The IAC had successfully obtained funding from Create Hong Kong of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau to promote Audio Description (AD) at the 40th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), during which the movers and shakers in the film industry in Hong Kong, the region, and the world congregated. On 26 March 2016, an Audio Description Awareness Day was organized. Activities included an Audio Description Seminar and a Gala Premiere of the film “Weeds on Fire” with AD.

 

Four additional public screenings with AD at different times and venues were also held. These screenings were open to special guests and the general public so that they were able to experience AD. We were honoured to have the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society as the co-organizer. The event marked a new milestone and laid a fertile ground for the further development of AD in Hong Kong.

 

Looking Forward

The IAC will upgrade its Library Management System and Tele-digital Library System, to enable our service users to enjoy better and more effective library services.

 

The Community Chest of Hong Kong’s support to the project on “Audio Description Service for the Visually Impaired” will expire by the end of April 2017. IAC will seek alternative funding support to sustain this meaningful project.

 

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Project Grant: Parents Resource Centre for Visually Impaired Children

 

School Inclusion Sharing Programme

Through sharing by visually impaired students and their parents, interactive activities and experiential games, the sighted students could learn more about the abilities and potentials of their visually impaired schoolmates. Three workshops were conducted for 21 secondary students and 711 primary students. These could facilitate the visually impaired students in soliciting more direct supports from their schools, peers and teachers, thus enhancing the social integration of the visually impaired youngsters. 

 

“Broadcasting Training and Internet Radio” Project

Seven programmes, with 23 training sessions were organized to train 14 visually impaired children and youths to become DJs and technicians. They took part in the recording and production of quality radio programmes. A total of 64 radio programmes of about 745 minutes were produced and uploaded to the radio website. The programmes included games, stories and profile interviews. 

 

“See Together, Happy Together with the Visually Impaired” Drama Project

The drama training workshop was led by professional drama teachers from the “Wishes”(卉思創藝及生命教育中心). Seven visually impaired children and youth participated and six sighted Integration Ambassadors were recruited from secondary schools. Together they created drama scripts under the topic “Dream” and performed at the Easter Variety Show held on 12 March 2016 in front of over 40 audience.

 

HNA Extra-curricular Activities Subsidy Scheme for Visually Impaired Students

The Centre obtained HK$100,000 funding support from the HNA Group International Company Limited (HNA) to continue the above subsidy programme, such that the visually impaired students were able to participate in different extra-curricular activities. The Summer Variety Show, co-organized and sponsored by HNA, was held on 18 July 2015, during which a cheque presentation ceremony and performance by the beneficiaries of the Scheme were also held. In 2015/16, subsidies were distributed to 25 visually impaired students to support their participation in extra-curricular activities, so that they could enjoy a holistic personal development.

 

Looking Forward

The Centre will continue to support its visually impaired members and their families, organize activities to help the visually impaired youngsters to develop their full potentials, and promote school inclusion for students with special needs. Since the funding support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club in the name of Community Project Grant will expire in March 2017, we shall seek continuous support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to sustain our services.

 

Volunteer Development Service

 

Volunteer Training and Gathering

In the past year, the number of individual volunteers increased from 840 to 903 and that of corporate volunteers increased from 100 to 142. Two volunteer orientation days were held on 17 April 2015 and 7 October 2015, during which 42 volunteers learned about the needs of the visually and hearing impaired persons and the necessary skills in working with them. They also joined tours to the Society’s service centres so as to understand more about our services. Furthermore, a one-day training camp was held on 4 December 2015. More than 100 volunteers participated in the talks on eye care and disease prevention. They were also introduced to new assistive aids for the visually impaired.

 

Caring Company Scheme

The Society had successfully nominated 19 partner companies and organizations to obtain the Caring Company/ Caring Organization Logos 2015/16, a scheme organized by the Hong Kong Council of Social Services.

 

Volunteer and Donors Management System (the System)

With the funding support from the Social Welfare Development Fund Phase II, the System was upgraded and installed in August 2015. Four on-site training sessions were held in September 2015, with 59 staff members attending. Trial run was arranged from September to December 2015. Live run began in February 2016. With the new System, we are able to better coordinate volunteer matching and improve donor relations.

 

Looking Forward

We shall make good use of the System to enhance volunteer matching and database management. Volunteer orientation days, day camp, training workshops and the biennial appreciation ceremony will be continued to foster volunteerism and their sense of belonging to HKSB.

 

Public Education Programme

 

The Labour and Welfare Bureau has sponsored part of the public education programme during the past year. A total of 104 schools and organizations, with over 8,500 participants took part in these programmes. 

 

Four sessions of a new summer public education programme “Summer Fun” were organized for parents and kids in August 2015. It attracted 133 parents and kids to join and they gave positive feedbacks.

 

“Fun Facts about the Visually Impaired 2” was published and distributed to the public in June 2015. Twenty fun facts were recorded in the booklet to help readers learn more about interesting facts of the lives of the visually impaired.

Service Statistics

As at 31 March 2016

 

Centralised Braille Production Centre

Transcribed Braille books	619 titles
Produced Braille eBooks	572 titles
Audio Braille Books	60titles
Collected Braille eBook Reservation System	4,641 titles

 

Public Education

Public Education Program

No. of participants	8,512
No. of schools and organizations	104

 

Information Accessibility Centre

Members  2,989

Tele-digital Library Service for the Visually Impaired Usage Frequency  307,201

	Collection	Loans
Braille Books	12,775 titles	5,309 volumes
Talking Books (titles)	6,761	8,120
Music Compact Discs (discs)	6,813	5,606
CD-ROMs/VCDs/DVDs (discs)	8,663	3,377
Talking Periodicals (cassettes)	N/A	10,502
Braille Periodicals (volumes)	N/A	5,621

Volunteer Development Service

Donors (Individuals & Organizations) Awarded in the Appreciation Ceremony 2015

Excellence Love Award	1
Generous Giving Angel Award
Gold Diamond Award	3
Purple Crystal Award	4
Gold Award	3
Silver Award	13
Bronze Award	86
Long-term Giving Award	49

Volunteers Awarded in the Appreciation Ceremony 2015

Individual Volunteers
Gold Diamond Award  12	12
Purple Crystal Award  68	68
Gold Award  48	48
Silver Award  62	62
Bronze Award  120	120

Corporate Volunteers

Purple Crystal Award	3
Gold Award	1
Bronze Award	1

 

No. of Individual Volunteers Registered	903
No. of Corporate Volunteers Registered	142
Total No. of Service Hours	27,107
Total No. of Collaborated Organizations and Corporations	97

 

Parents Resource Centre for Visually Impaired Children

Member Attendance

Drop-in members	3,099
Visitors	99
Enquires/Referral	90
Toy & Resource Loans	248

Number of Programmes and Attendance

Programmes	225
Attendance	2,574

 

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Our Team

As at 31 March 2016

646 staff providing quality services to the visually impaired persons

Management Staff	23	4%
Paramedical Staff	111	17%
Social Worker & Welfare Staff	57	9%
Supporting Staff	100	15%
Clerical Staff	108	17%
Direct Service Staff	247	38%