Listen to #Hashtag Hong Kong every Sunday morning at 8.15
Focusing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
(Sundays 8.15am - 8.25am)
Good morning. I am here to talk about a mission of freedom, companionship, and how we are addressing two of Hong Kong's most pressing social needs through the incredible power of trained dogs.
Established in 2012, our foundation was built on a clear and critical goal: to provide professionally trained guide dogs to our visually impaired community, thereby offering them the life-changing gifts of mobility, independence, and dignity. Our vision has always been a Hong Kong where every visually impaired person who needs one can have the freedom a guide dog provides.
In our city, there are approximately 160,000 visually impaired individuals. Now, consider this number: we currently have only about forty guide dogs in active service.
The International Guide Dog Federations suggests one guide dog for every hundred visually impaired individuals. Here, we are serving far less than one percent of the need. Every successful guide dog pairing is a triumph, but it also highlights the immense gap we are striving to fill. Each person on our waiting list is someone whose world is smaller than it should be, waiting for the key that a guide dog represents.
This urgent need is the core of our work. But it’s not our entire story. In the course of our rigorous training program, we encountered a beautiful phenomenon. Not every dog has the specific temperament to be a guide dog. Some, while wonderfully intelligent and affectionate, are better suited for a different kind of service. We call them “career-change” dogs. Instead of seeing this as a conclusion, we saw it as a new beginning. We asked: what other profound impacts to our society can these exceptional dogs achieve?
This inquiry led us to innovate, creating our Animal-Assisted Services and our pioneering Companion Dog Programme. We are proud to have launched Hong Kong's first resident companion dog service for elderly homes, and the first such service in collaboration with the Correctional Services Department.
The need we are addressing is profound. We all believe our elders deserve a life of health, wellness, and dignity. Yet, recent study indicates a great social pain point: one in every ten elderly persons in Hong Kong experiences emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. Loneliness and isolation are very real challenges.
Our response was to deploy our carefully selected companion dogs into these environments. But we didn't want to rely just on heartwarming stories; we wanted evidence. So, we partnered with Shue Yan University to conduct a formal, six-month study at two elderly homes. The results were unequivocal.
At the beginning of the programme, 38 percent of the elderly residents showed different levels of depression and anxiety. After six months with our resident companion dogs, that figure saw a dramatic and significant drop—down to just 17 percent.
This is a demonstrable outcome. It represents a tangible improvement in the quality of life for our elderly. It is solid evidence that we have powerful, effective, and non-pharmaceutical means to alleviate emotional distress. This proven methodology is not limited to elderly homes; it is a model we are now applying to support students with emotional problem, and to provide comfort to end-of-life patients in hospices.
So, you see, our work creates two powerful streams of impact. One stream provides the gift of independence, trust and safety to the visually impaired. The other provides the gift of emotional support and connection to the isolated and vulnerable.
A mission of this scope and complexity cannot be achieved alone. We rely on the heart and support of our community. That is why I am here today, to ask for your help.
I invite you to come and see us at our first Hong Kong guide dog training school. We offer guided tours of our training school. Witness the dedication of our trainers, the intelligence of our dogs, and the tangible reality of our mission. Let us show you what your support makes possible.
Please consider becoming a volunteer. Whether it's helping to socialise our puppies or assisting with our daily operations, your time and energy are invaluable gifts that directly fuel our work.
We are not just training dogs. We are building a more inclusive, compassionate, and supportive Hong Kong. We are unlocking potential and easing pain. With your help, we can ensure that everyone who needs a guide to navigate the world, or a companion to warm their heart, will have one.
Thank you for your time, and for your belief in a kinder future.
To end this programme ,I would like to play "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Josh Groban. We hope that by empowering the visually impaired with guide dogs as a team, one would never walk alone. I hope you enjoy.
Good morning, Hashtag HK.
As a mother of three, my husband and I have been blessed with our 6-year-old daughter Naima, and our 11-year-old twins, Ava, who is neurotypical, and Jacob, who has Down Syndrome. Throughout our parenting journey in Hong Kong, we've encountered various challenges—ranging from Jacob's prenatal diagnosis and the need for sensitive, comprehensive information about Down syndrome, to accessing essential health and developmental resources.
The start of our journey wasn’t ideal. our doctor in the public sector at that time lacked the bedside manner and the training to sensitively discuss her findings of our 20-week scan, so instead she chose to go through her findings in silence, which unfortunately created a huge sense of unease and nervousness as first-time parents. What should have been a momentous and memorable visit ended up being a confused and daunting encounter where we were left with many questions unanswered and were instead given a bunch of leaflets on Down syndrome to go home and read.
We gathered information from a range of diverse sources, such as parent blogs and Down syndrome charities. The challenge of organizing this wealth of information inspired me to create A Little Bit Extra: a centralized resource platform dedicated to providing the latest information, fostering connections, and offering support for the Down syndrome community.
One of our goals at ALBE is to work with maternity units within public hospitals to ensure expectant and new parents have access to ongoing support and contemporary accurate information regarding Down syndrome. We aim to provide training and resources to health care practitioners to ensure they understand the lived experience of having Down syndrome and realise the importance of their language and attitudes when speaking of Down syndrome.
There appears to be a real lack of understanding Down syndrome as an individual condition as it is often grouped under a general disability. This then leads to a lack of awareness as to what it truly means to be born with this condition and how to fully support those with down syndrome medically, within the educational arena and within the job market.
A huge emphasis is placed on early intervention for any child that has an additional need, however often parents are left to fend for themselves once their child reaches school age, as there is a real lack of inclusive activities available for our children and in particular as our children grow to become teenagers and young adults many are left to feel quite alone and isolated.
During Jacob’s early years we were provided with fortnightly occupational therapy, speech therapy and PT (physical therapy) sessions which were an absolute godsend as it helped to alleviate the financial pressures of the private therapy sessions we were giving him. However, after two years these were ceased which is frustrating as both occupational therapy and speech therapy are essential for Jacob’s development and something he will require until he’s an adult. The monthly expense of therapies is a significant financial burden for many parents.
There is estimated to be 3000 individuals with Down syndrome in Hong Kong and it will be our mission to seek out our friends and their families within our community to ensure they are able connect, engage with others and feel supported within our community.
Our biggest support has been the family network here in HK. When Jacob was born and was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital we were appointed a social worker who then put us in touch with the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association who in turn connected us with a number of families here in HK which was invaluable for us at the time and we have built and maintained some beautiful friendships. This support and connection is something that we will continue to nurture through A Little Bit Extra.
To enhance the support for individuals with Down Syndrome in Hong Kong, we request the support of the government in the following key areas:
● Enhance Education and Training: Implement comprehensive education and training programs in hospitals so healthcare professionals can deliver diagnoses sensitively, using language that is both respectful and non-discriminatory during scans and upon delivery.
● Expand Therapy Support: Increase subsidies for therapy sessions, particularly for children aged 5 to 11, ensuring they receive essential support beyond early childhood to foster their development and integration.
● Promote Awareness and Acceptance: Officially recognize Down Syndrome as a distinct condition to elevate awareness and acceptance. This initiative will educate healthcare professionals, school educators, and corporations, encouraging inclusive employment practices.
● Alleviate Caregiver Concerns: Address the longstanding worry of caregivers regarding the future of their children by providing structured support systems, ensuring a secure and supportive environment for individuals with Down Syndrome as they transition into adulthood.
March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day. Please wear bright and bold coloured socks on this day to raise awareness and let us work together to build an inclusive and supportive community for individuals with Down Syndrome and their families.
