Upholding mission and striving ahead

In the 50s and 60s of the last century, Hong Kong faced so many problems that needed to be solved, the needs and rights of people with disabilities were being neglected.  Established in 1964, the Joint Council worked together with rehabilitation agencies and self-help groups to care about people with disabilities and bring them with hope and change.   With the efforts of our predecessors, the Joint Council has made distinguished achievements.  Let us review our past contributions.

Promoting the participation of people with disabilities as important stakeholders of policy formulation

• Discover and nurture people with disabilities to participate in social affairs and government’s advisory bodies.  Many leaders with disabilities have been appointed as members of the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee or other related advisory bodies to reflect the needs of people with disabilities, such as Chan Fook Shing, Chong Chan Yau, Hanson Lee, Cheung Kin Fai, Benny Cheung, Rabi Yim and Walter Tsui.

Directly or indirectly advocating for rehabilitation policies and services which have far-reaching implications

• To integrate the people with disabilities into society, we strived for half-fare transport concessions and eventually received a monthly transport subsidy of $200 by the government. With the introduction of two-dollar concessionary fare for the elderly, the government also offered the same benefits to the eligible people with disabilities.
• We strived for the legislation of “Design Manual: Barrier Free Access 2008”. Through negotiating with government officials, lobbying with political parties and publicizing positioning paper, it was finally passed by the Legislative Council.
• In order to promote the service development in rehabilitation field, we participated in the formulation of Rehabilitation Programme Plan and suggested the government to adopt the “International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health” (ICF) into rehabilitation services. In recent years, the Social Welfare Department has adopted the ICF model in the introduction of new services. 
• Concerning about the ageing issue of people with intellectual disabilities, we invited academics to conduct research and took the lead to develop standardized assessment tools. Such acts fostered the government to establish a working group to follow up the ageing issue.
• We actively promoted the standardization of sign language by setting up assessment criteria, applying for recognition of Qualifications Framework and providing “Hong Kong Sign Language Interpretors List” to relevant organizations. With our concerted efforts, the Broadcasting Authority required all local television stations to provide subtitles for their prime time programmes and sign interpretation service for the English news channels.
• Introduced various pilot service projects, such as Rehabus and Community Rehabilitation Network, etc.  Those pilot projects were turned to regular services. 

Protecting the reasonable rights of people with disabilities

• We strived to remove the social misconception against the ex-mentally ill persons. In view of the opposition of setting up rehabilitation facilities in the events of Tung Tau Estate and Laguna City, we promoted community education and social inclusion, and supported the legislation of Disability Discrimination Ordinance and the establishment of Equal Opportunities Commission.
• We promoted and monitored the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Hong Kong by setting up a specialized committee to follow up and formed a delegation to attend the meeting of United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• We participated in the review of the Mental Health Ordinance by adding the definition of persons with intellectual disabilities, so that to protect the mentally incapacitated persons to have the chance to access to medical care. 

Driving Hong Kong rehabilitation services to integrate into the Mainland and international community

• Being the agency member of Rehabilitation International and the Asia and Pacific Disability Forum, we drive the Hong Kong rehabilitation services to align with international standard. Our former chairperson Dr Harry Fang was appointed as the chairperson of Rehabilitation International during the period from 1980 to 1984, and our vice-chairperson Dr Joseph Kwok is the chairperson of the Asia and Pacific Disability Forum.
• Being the agency member of the Workability Asia, our former Executive Committee member Ms Deborah Wan was the vice-chairperson.

Promoting equal participation of people with disabilities as to create an inclusive society

• Through organizing the “International Day for Persons with Disabilities” (IDPD), we actively collaborate with 18 District Councils and business organizations to create an inclusive society and discover the strengths of people with disabilities (such as work ability and artistic potential, etc).  The IDPD also gains a wide support from public and private corporations by offering free ride day, Ocean Park Fun Month and Hong Kong Disneyland Fun Month, etc.

Uniting the sector, promoting cross-sector participation and responding to the needs of people with disabilities and their carers

• In response to the needs of people with disabilities and their carers during the novel coronavirus pandemic, we cooperated with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service to pool and purchase resources for the rehabilitation sector, hire replacement staff and modify facilities.