| Watchdog Early Learning and Development Centre provides intensive pre-school services for both English and Cantonese-speaking children with special needs from birth up to six years. The challenges that the children present mainly include Down Syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, global developmental delays, hyperactivity, learning difficulties and cerebral palsy.
Watchdog serves more than 70 children in its regular programme and another 60 children in its Saturday programme. In its regular programme, the majority of students are in small classes of five to six who meet twice a week for group work, which includes individual training, social development, fine motor training, language training and supervised free play. This class training is supplemented by speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and music therapy as required by each child and incorporated into the child's programme.
All referrals are made through the Central Referral System for Rehabilitation Services Subsystem for Disabled Pre-schoolers (CRSRehab-PS) of the Social Welfare Department. Concerned parents should contact Watchdog, their Family Service Centre, or the medical Social Workers at the hospital/clinic they attend, who will refer them to the CRSRehab-PS.
Watchdog's Saturday programme provides classes in Introductory Yoga, piano and African Drum workshop, as well as speech, physio, occupational and music therapy. Psychological services are also offered.
Watchdog organises periodical workshops, education talks, school visits, and support groups for parents. The centre also has a parent resource/toy library where toys and books can be borrowed to assist with at-home training and homework. |