Golden time for special needs children

As Justin Huen Ho-yan's parents look on, teacher Flora Chan encourages the baby to stretch his hand out and reach for the colourful toys near him. This action helps exercise Justin's arm muscles, which are weak because the 16-month-old boy has Down's syndrome.

Justin has been getting muscle reinforcement training at the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association in Wong Tai Sin since June. He is among the few toddlers with special needs who are lucky enough to receive special training before they start kindergarten.

The association's director, Anna Lee Mei-yin, says applying for a place at the government-run early education training centre for special needs children is like the interminable wait for a public housing flat.

"In most cases, children get a place when they reach 20 months. But in districts like Yau Tsim Mong, where demand heavily outweighs supply, a child will not get a place until he is three years old.

"For special needs children, the time right after their birth, when they undergo growth spurts, is a critical period where reinforcement must be given. Otherwise, it will be much harder for them to catch up as they grow older," says Lee.

The definition of "special needs" covers a range of developmental and health conditions. Down's syndrome is just one example. Others include autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and visual and speech disorders.