ROTARY CLUB 15th CHRISTMAS PARTY | Association calls for more therapists for children with special needs

Elizabete Fong, president-elect of the Rotary Club, Kevin Lei, Rotary Club president and Gloria Ma

Rotary Club of Macau’s mission to further support children with special needs is ongoing, even after fifteen years, and last Friday the organization launched its annual Christmas Party, gathering about 800 children, parents and Rotarians. The executive director of the Macau Association for the Mentally Handicapped, Gloria Ma, acknowledged that over the past fifteen years disabled people’s quality of life has improved, but Macau still lacks therapists able to work with children with special needs.
Ms Ma said that “we are still lacking therapists, such as speech or music therapists.” She urged the government to import these professionals if the local labor market is not able to cater for the special needs community at present.
“I think the government should consider the import of these professionals if there is no local supply. Or at least they can import professionals who can train local educators here, so that they can help cater for a growing special needs community,” she added.
The Macau Association for the Mentally Handicapped co-
hosted the Rotary Club’s Christmas Party last Friday, alongside other co-organizers, namely the Fuhong Society of Macau, the Macau Special Olympics and the Parents’ Association for the Mentally Handicapped.
Rotary Club’s president Kevin Lei stressed that the event’s purpose “is to serve as a platform for children with special needs, to showcase their talents by participating in singing and dancing activities, which can also be appreciated by their families.”
He also stressed the need to provide adequate treatment and therapy for children with special needs, given the growing number of autistic children. “The reality is a bit unfortunate; there are more and more autistic children. The government is doing a good job but we need to extend this more, as autistic children need particular attention and treatment when they’re aged two to five. It’s a very early stage and we need more treatment specialists in this area,” he said.
Ms Ma recalled that improving the local community’s civic education toward disabled people is also crucial, as they need to be seen as normal people in need of special care.
Mr Lei recalled that the event has helped to unite children, families and the local community, bringing them some Christmas joy, carols and gifts.
Last Friday’s Christmas party, sponsored by Sands China since 2010, saw the appearance of familiar DreamWorks characters such as Shrek. The casino operator also provided 700 gifts for the children attending the event.
The vice president of Convention & Exhibition Operations of Venetian Macao, Gene Capuano, said that the company hopes to continue supporting the Rotary Club’s activities for the local community in future.
This year’s edition of “Joy to the World Xmas Night” also saw a Christmas wish tree and two Santa Clauses, which amused the children.