Highlights of the Year 2020-21
“Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise” Project
The “Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise” Project (3E Project) aims at enhancing the employment of PWDs through direct creation of jobs, to increase their employment opportunities. It provides seed money to NGOs to create small businesses with the condition of employing no less than 50% of PWDs in the total number of persons on the pay-roll. As at 31 March 2021, 131 businesses such as cleaning services, food and beverage, eco-tourism, car beauty services, massage services provided by visually impaired persons, retail shops, vegetable supply and processing, etc. were set up through the support of the 3E Project, creating 1 329 employment opportunities, including 935 for PWDs.
Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation)
The objective of the Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) [MCO(R)] is to enhance employment and training opportunities for PWDs through innovative, effective and efficient business development and marketing approaches. Services of the MCO(R) include assisting NGOs in the setting up of social enterprises and small businesses under the 3E Project, promoting the products produced and services provided by PWDs through the brand of “Let Them Shine” and strengthening NGOs’ co-operation with the Government and private sectors.
Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities
The Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities was launched in June 2013. It provides subsidies to employers who may apply for a one-off subsidy of up to $20,000 for each employee with disabilities for procurement of assistive devices and/or workplace modifications to facilitate the work of employees with disabilities and to enhance their work efficiency. With a view to enhancing the support for the employees with disabilities and their employers, enhancement measures were introduced in March 2020 after conducting a comprehensive review of the Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities, and the maximum level of support has since been raised from $20,000 to $40,000 per employee with disabilities. As at 31 March 2021, the Programme granted about $4 million to the employers of 245 PWDs for procurement of assistive devices and/or workplace modifications.
Central Fund for Personal Computers
The Central Fund for Personal Computers was set up in 1997 to assist eligible PWDs to acquire computer facilities for self-employment or receiving supported employment at home. As at 31 March 2021, the Fund granted a total of $ 4.78 million to 376 applicants.
IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment
To continue to help people with visual impairment (PVI) to gain access to information technology for social inclusion, SWD has since 27 January 2021 renamed the “Jockey Club IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment” as the “IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment”, which aims at supporting non-governmental and non-profit-making organisations, as well as tertiary institutions that provide social or educational services to PVI for acquiring advanced Chinese screen readers, Braille displays and accessories to facilitate PVI’s surfing on the Internet, and subsidising individual PVI with genuine financial difficulty to purchase these devices for study or employment purposes.