Disabled to a degree

Updated: 2008-02-15 07:14

By Nicole Wong(HK Edition)

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 Disabled to a degree

The dragon boat team of the Community University for the Disabled at a dragon boat contest in Sai Kung in 2007 Photos courtesy of the Neighborhood Advice-Action Council

Imagine a mentally challenged attired in college graduation gowns and caps! For most of the Hong Kong people, it's hard to picture this. Even disabled children's parents in their wildest imagination could hardly conceive of their wards getting into colleges.

But, thanks to unflinching determination and enormous efforts of the Neighborhood Advice-Action Council (NAAC), a non-profit organization dedicated to community development in Hong Kong, Community University for the Disabled was set up in January 2004. The university has had about 400 registered students.

The idea to establish the institute came as a response to the lack of continuing education for the mentally handicapped in the city, where the disabled students can attend only up to Form 7 at the government-run special schools.

 Disabled to a degree

Gordon Yue (left), a swimming instructor at the university, and Au Ho Cheung, the Special Olympic gold medalist

"Each child is unique and determination and commitment is what counts. Sadly, there's no scope for further education for these teenagers," said Tung Chi-fat, Secretary General of NAAC. "It's a shame. For, if right opportunities are given, many of them could show great promise in arts, music and sports."

With its avowed goal of tapping the talent in these youngsters, the institute was opened for the mentally handicapped aged 15 or above. It comprises seven departments, ranging from literature, drama, music and dance, to sports, social sciences, information technology, and design.

For each student who registers at the college, the instructors discuss with the parents the student's interests and strengths to arrive at a tailor-made study plan, the institute's center supervisor Mak Yuen Fan said.

"Students can choose any combination of courses from the seven majors depending on their interests," said Mak. "There're students who come to only one class a week, while others line up their weeks with different courses."

To fit into the schedules of students who work in daytime, all classes run once a week on weekday evenings and Saturdays. Most courses take 13 weeks to complete and cost HK$500 to HK$600, depending on the class size.

While there is no requirement for the minimum number of courses a student has to take, those who want to be proper graduates have to work hard like the students at any regular university, said NAAC's coordinator Eva Choi.

"We use the points system and each course carries 15 points," Choi said. "To graduate with a degree, a student has to obtain 200 points in three years with at least half of them in one specific major," Choi added.

For those who prefer to diversify their studies, the institute also offers one-year certificate programs and two-year diploma programs, depending on the level and duration of the students' participation.

The courses have gained popularity among parents of mentally handicapped youths, who were initially skeptical.

"Some parents thought it was ironic there should be such a 'university' when they had no confidence in their children's abilities," Choi recalled. "It took some time for them to sink in the idea."

 Disabled to a degree

The university's dance troupe wins top awards at the Hong Kong Dance Award in 2007.

The university, however, faced problems in arranging funds in its early days. As NAAC receives no grant from the government, the institute's operation cost had to be covered entirely by tuition fees and public donations.

"We're looking at the possibility of running full-time degree programs this year," Tung said. "Tuition fees will be raised because of higher operating cost. Each student may have to pay around HK$4000 a month."

To make it a worthy investment for the students' parents, the institute strives to enhance the quality of its courses through collaboration with local universities, such as the fitness training programs co-organized by the Department of Physical Education in Hong Kong Baptist University.

"The university lecturers give our students training in becoming PE instructors," Mak said. "The parents are happy to see their children in a university classroom setting, which they never dreamt of in the past."

There are always surprises in store for the parents, as their children exceed their expectation. The 19-year-old Chan Hoi Chu, a student at the Community University since 2004, has stunned everyone with his five gold medals in the Special Olympics for the Mentally Handicapped since 2002.

"I let him take swimming lessons when he's 11, as I hoped it'd improve his health," said Chan's mother. "It never crossed my mind that he'd take part in swimming competitions overseas or become a gold medalist. I'm very glad to see him happy."

Gordon Yue, the institute's head swimming coach, taught Chan at other special schools before they both came to the community university in 2004. In the last eight years, Yue has seen Chan overcome many odds with determination.

"He suffers from the Down Syndrome, which makes his muscle weaker than those of normal people," Yue said. "Yet, he always holds out till the end, no matter how tired he gets during practice or during a competition."

With his dedication to the sport and relative flair for communication, Chan was offered the job of part-time swimming instructor by the institute two years ago. Chan teaches a class of 16 mentally handicapped students, aged between 14 and 16, once a week.

"I'm happy to teach these students. We get along well," said Chan. "I show them how to do warm-up exercises, teach them the right moves and correct the wrong ones, and make sure they get dressed properly before they leave."

The institute has also nurtured prize-winning artists. The institute dance troupe did well at the stage of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, as they won the special jury's award and the best choreography at the Hong Kong Dance Award in December 2007.

"It's an annual award organized by the Hong Kong Dance Associations and it's open to all dance troupes in Hong Kong, not only mentally challenged ones," Mak said. "Our troupe competes regularly in local contests and performs in various functions."

The 18-year-old Au Ho-cheung, a member of the dance troupe for over a year, has been learning Indian dance at the institute and often entertains his friends and family with his impromptu performances.

"He used to be a loner and very self-centered before he attended the Community University. Now he's an altogether different boy," said Au's mother. "I am happy that my son can have continuing education and I hope the institute will open new horizon for many disabled children."

(HK Edition 02/15/2008 page4)