SPECIFIC
LEARNING DISABILITIES (SLD) IN HONG KONG: AN OVERVIEW
Chan CW
Hong Kong Society of Child Neurology and Developmental
Paediatrics
Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)
have intrigued professionals throughout the years. There are people who
believe that SLD only involves problems with reading, while there are those
who understand Dyslexia merely as a writing problem with mirror inversion
of alphabets. Furthermore, many feel that SLD although a major and
documented problem in Caucasians may not exist in the Chinese population
due to racial and language differences. Yet numerous Hong Kong children and
parents suffer daily as a result of this condition with limited recognition
and support. The current paper attempts to review recent developments in
the understanding and practice on SLD in Hong Kong, current problems facing
Hong Kong’s professionals of this field, and events leading to the Workshop
on “SLD 1999:the Way Ahead” which was keenly attended by professionals,
parents, politicians, educators and administrators. The Resolutions issued
at the end of the Workshop is an important document to witness the
agreements on SLD for Hong Kong’s reference today and to set future
directions for action. The paper further introduces the Hong Kong Society of
Child Neurology and Developmental Paediatrics Working Party on SLD: its
mission, structure, members, goals, and its achievement in enlisting the
cooperation of intersectoral and interdisciplinary professionals,
government and non-governmental organizations in arousing local awareness
and in coordinating strategic activities towards solution of SLD in Hong
Kong and in areas where Chinese Language is being used.