There is always light in the midst of darkness

Mr Cheung lives in the public housing with his wife and two sons. The elder son has special educational needs, and the younger son needs special training on self-care ability. Mr Cheung has chronic liver disease which required ongoing medication, and this has taken a toll on both his physical stamina and mental well-being. Several years ago, he was also diagnosed with macular degeneration, causing a decline in eyesight and plunging this family into further hardship.

During a checkup at the ophthalmology hospital, a fellow patient introduced the Cheung’s family to the “Empowering Families with Disabilities” service, which is funded by the Community Chest and operated by the Hong Kong Federation of the Blind. This program offers regular parent-child events for families with disabilities to bolster their bonds and familial unity, while assisting children in disabilities families to advance in academic and personal development.

Ms Chan, a social worker from the “Empowering Families with Disabilities” program provided various support to the Cheung’s family, including the offer of school work and social skills training for the younger son. After two years of training, he was not only able to enter the primary school of his choice, but also learned to actively integrate into group activities. In addition, Ms Chan also provided employment and emotional counseling for the elder son, who has emotional problems that impacted his work, and he finally succeed to obtain an employment. The support of social worker significantly alleviated the caretaking pressure of Mrs Cheung, and provided a steady source of emotional support to the mother as well.

The Chest is dedicated to support the visually impaired individuals and their families. Cheung’s family has undergone a profound transformation through the program funded by the Chest and operated by the very dedicated social workers.