One day’s afternoon
Social worker: “Boy, you may try to join the uniform team…? “
Mom: “Miss Chan, something you don’t know…. I have tried before; everyone receives the notice of application, except my boy. They told me he’s not suitable… “
Another day’s afternoon
Social worker: “How’s your boy doing in school recently? “
Mom: “Miss Chan, something you don’t know… he kicked his teacher… kept watched by TA (teacher’s assistant)… not attending class at all…”
Another day’s afternoon
Social worker: “There will be some summer classes coming. Does your boy take any interest class before? “
Mom: “Miss Chan, something you don’t know… I did apply the class for him at another center before, however he’s rejected at once… they said it’s lack of manpower to have one-on-one service… the activity is only designed for general kids…anyway, not suitable at all…”
Being rejected again and again, those parents whose children being ADHD and moderate autism and also studying in traditional primary school are truly helpless. “Something you don’t know…” – this indicates how isolating and helpless of their situation and how they are misunderstood enduringly.
However, parents find it difficult to find a way out. Community Centers in general fail to provide appropriate services; those grassroots families cannot afford the expensive private tutor fees, while, the units that provide children’s rehabilitation services mainly serve pre-school or special schools children. These parents, whose children are within this gap, often feel frustrated.
Evaluation after 3 months
Social worker : “How’s your boy after joining our service for 3 months？＂
Mom: Miss Chan, I’m so grateful my boy can join the service here. He can finish the homework before he gets back home. I need not to struggle with him about doing homework… he likes coming here… he even tells me about the pals he meets here…”
Social worker: “After evaluate the adaptability and our situation… (tears came up in mom’s eyes) we are confident that we can take good care of your boy. He can stay here after this trial period.”
Mom: “Thank you so much!!!”
“Acceptance, care and patience allow children to grow up at their own pace” – this is very important for both children and parents. SEN Service never has such ‘magic’ to change children, it’s only love and acceptance is the ways out for children to change.
Love in the Epidemic
There has always been a demand for services for the children of working families. It is especially difficult for SEN children to find suitable service due to their special learning needs. However, this plague of the century (COVID-19) seemed to stop all activities. When the Education Bureau suspended classes in a short time, no support for child care services is provided to working families in need. It’s even worse that general care services and tutorial classes were suspended, too. In order to earn living, how can those parents just stay at home for taking care of their children without going to work? Taking into account the needs of grassroots working families, the “S.E.N. School Age Support Program” of Evangel Children’s Home insists in providing whole-day service to working families, from Monday to Saturday, so that parents can go to work with ease.
At the same time, we also provide half-day care services for children from non-working families on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, so that children can keep learning under school suspension. The tutors follow up the children’s online learning, so the children can catch up when classes resume later. Also, the children can learn life skills as well. We cherish every moment of their growth.
Companion and support during the epidemic is our promise. We wish to be the second home of SEN children in the community, responding to the Lord’s call with service.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
(Matthew 19:14)
