Media

JC A-Connect Family Fun Day@HKU

31 Mar 2017

 

The United Nations declared April 2 as the World Autism Awareness Day in 2007, with the goal to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), so that they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society. Every April, leading ASD advocacy organisations worldwide initiate a range of activities accordingly. “JC A-Connect: Jockey Club Autism Support Network” (JC A-Connect), a project funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, echoes the call of the United Nations to spread the message.

On April 2, JC A-Connect will organise JC A-Connect Family Fun Day, in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Hong Kong as well as Caritas-Hong Kong, Heep Hong Society, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, SAHK, the Salvation Army and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, in an effort to gather service providers and caregivers from all sectors and raise the public’s awareness and understanding of ASD. The project will also draw on mass media and other on-line platforms to promote a positive image of ASD.

JC A-Connect Family Fun Day is an event with three activity zones, namely ‘Experiential Tour’, ‘Family Game Zone’ and ‘Community Engagement Activities’. By joining different experiential workshops and fun activities, participants will have a deeper understanding of ASD and the needs of not only individuals with ASD, but also their families, which in turn will promote social inclusion. Moreover, participants can enjoy precious time with their families, while expressing their love and care of people with ASD.   A painting exhibition “Autistic and Artistic” supported by the Hong Kong Autism Awareness Alliances will also be held on the day.

JC A-Connect Family Fun Day is open to the public and admission free. Participants are recommended to dress in BLUE as a gesture of support. For event details, please refer to the webpage at http://www.socsc.hku.hk/JCA-Connect/funday2017/. 

Media representatives are invited to join the event with details as follows:
Date:   April 2, 2017 (Sunday)
Time:   2:00 – 6:00pm (Media registration at 1:40pm)
Venue: Lee Shau Kee Lecture Centre, Centennial Campus, HKU

For media enquiries, please contact
Miss Vanessa Sit (Tel: 3917 1203 /9267 8877; Email: vansit@hku.hk)
Miss Phoebe Kan (Tel: 3917 1207/ 9720 2238; Email: phoebeka @hku.hk)
Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong

About “JC A-Connect: Jockey Club Autism Support Network”

“JC A-Connect: Jockey Club Autism Support Network” (www.JCA-Connect.hk) is a three-year, $167 million programme funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.  In collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Hong Kong, the Education Bureau, Caritas-Hong Kong, Heep Hong Society, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, SAHK, the Salvation Army and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the project aims at addressing the needs of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Hong Kong mainstream primary and secondary schools and their families.

Since its launch in the 2015/16 academic year, the Project has served over 4,000 students with ASD in over 400 primary and secondary schools, covering 50 percent of students with ASD studying in mainstream schools in Hong Kong. In the first year alone, more than 11,000 parents have benefited from over 2,900 parent support and training sessions provided by 18 district-based centres.