Macau Special Olympics 30th Anniversary Celebration Series: Family Support Network Forum for People with Intellectual Disabilities in Asia
1 六月 2017
For the celebration of our 30th Anniversary, we have successfully held our “Family Support Network Forum for people with intellectual disabilities in Asia” from May 30th to June 1st, 2017 at the Macau Sands Cotai Center. We had proudly invited experts and families of people with intellectual disabilities from different cities & countries in Asia, including a special guest speaker, Cherish Aperocho, a youth leader from the Special Olympics Asia Pacific to share experiences, strategies on promoting the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Our MSO family forums have been held for 10 consecutive years. This year, our theme was on “Social Inclusion without Discrimination” and the topics of the forum had even covered the issues on special education needs, sports and health, the Supported employment and the double aging for the people with intellectual disabilities in Asia. We were grateful to have provided another opportunity for families of people with intellectual disabilities from the Chinese communities all over Asia gathering together here to exchange their experiences & to learn from each other in the event. As we strongly believed, the forum had greatly promoted the support, concern, love, acceptance & awareness from the public. The forum was a great success with all the work & efforts from our Macau families of people with intellectual disabilities.
On the topic of “Social Inclusion Without Discrimination”： We had invited Marcus Chiu, an expert and a researcher who has been studying the situation of the disabled in Asia (Marcus had taught in Hong Kong Universities & Colleges, and the National University of Singapore) and families of Special Olympics service users to do their sharing on the topic. Professor Chiu had reviewed us his experiences in doing researches in Hong Kong and Singapore. He was pleased to give his professional recommendations to parents & families on facing emotional and difficult issues for families of people with disabilities.
Cherish Aperocho, a youth leader from the Special Olympics Asia Pacific (SOAP) shared experiences, strategies on promoting anti-discrimination and youth activation of different Special Olympics programs in Asia, such as Indonesia, Philippines, Japan & other Asian places.
Our Special Olympics International Global Messenger (IGM), Ms. Selina Ao Ieong joining her Unified Partner, Ms. Angela U to make her remarkable speech on her experiences of participating the SOI events.
On the “Supported Employment” topic, Special Olympics (SO) families had shared their cases on employment as well as their point of view on our community resources converting into the social capital. Furthermore, they were impressed by the changes on our SO athletes with job stability. Employment for people with intellectual disabilities improves not only on their material living standard but it has tremendously fulfilled them spiritually.
“Sport & Health for Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities”：Special Olympics (SO) families expressed their pleasant feelings towards the changes they have seen on SO athletes joining sport events. Families of SO athletes were invited to make speeches & discussions on the advantages & essentials of sport participations for better health and living qualities of life for SO athletes.
“Double Aging” topic covered the issues observed in all the double aging families. Discussions on the security and stability of living for people with ID and their families regarding to their employment, sport & health supports provided in their communities.
After participating at the Family Forum, SOAP Youth leader, Cherish Aperocho had visited our MSO vocational training center, our Unified School partner, Escola São João De Brito & our MSO football training session.
On May 28th, Cherish joined the Kickoff Ceremony for our MSO 30th Anniversary
In the evening of May 29th, SOAP Youth Leader, Cherish was enjoying the game & fun at our MSO unified football training.
On May 31st, Cherish Aperocho, SOAP Youth Leader & Ms. Angela U met with students at our Unified School Partner, Escola São João De Brito to promote Special Olympics Unified programs.
We had invited Cherish of SOAP to visit our MSO vocational training center facilities to learn more about Macau vocational supports to the people with intellectual disabilities on May 31st, 2017.
