Recent News
2025-09-10
Conductive Education: Establishing Self and Others: Taking Independent Steps Forward-The Wish of Ka Wai
Ka Wai is a resident of the Bradbury Wong Tai Sin Hostel of the Association and a trainee at the Jockey Club Tak Tin Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Services Centre. He is transported daily between the hostel and Centre by the Association's vehicle. Despite suffering from limb contracture and moderate intellectual disability, Ka Wai has always insisted on using his own strength to get on and off the vehicle through the front door stairs, until the pandemic disrupted his routine.
Ka Wai said, "Sitting for long periods made me weak, and I even had to kneel when getting up.” During the pandemic, trainees had to stay in the hostel, and Ka Wai was unable to go out as usual, resulting in a lack of upper limb strength training. After the pandemic, he had to switch to using a wheelchair to board and alight via the vehicle wheelchair lift from the rear door. This change sparked his determination to challenge himself again. Ms Peggy B. Y. CHAU, Manager of the Jockey Club Tak Tin Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Services Centre, said, "Ka Wai hopes to use the vehicle’s front door to board and alight by himself again. Upon hearing this, the therapy team was very encouraging and immediately set training goals to help him fulfill his wish.”
Person-oriented and self-decision learning has always been the core philosophy of the Association’s conductive education. The team carefully listened to Ka Wai’s wishes and designed a seamless, consistent learning process for him throughout the day. Occupational therapists and fitness instructors arranged a series of physical training sessions focusing on strengthening his upper limbs and included passive treatments such as stretching exercises to improve the range of motion in his arms, helping him use his strength to pull himself into the vehicle.
Following the principles of conductive education and to maximise training effectiveness, the team—including occupational therapists, fitness instructors, social workers, and frontline caregivers—designed ways to incorporate training into Ka Wai’s daily life, increasing opportunities for physical exercises and practices. For example, he was encouraged to stand more, practice transfers, and board and alight from the vehicle as part of his daily routine, making training an integral part of life.
Through sweat and perseverance, Ka Wai gradually rebuilt his physical functions and confidence, ultimately succeeding in boarding and alighting the vehicle via the front door by himself. He smiled and said, "I’m so happy to be able to climb the stairs.” This joy comes not only from his skill improvement but also from his desire for independent living.
Ka Wai’s story is the best testament to conductive education. When we believe in the potential of our trainees and support them as a team to overcome every challenge, each trainee can live with positivity, hope, and purpose.
Watch more:
https://youtu.be/Opr6hh7sHQk
Capture from the video.
