The Child Development Centre (CDC) uniquely provides support to the widest spectrum of Special Educational Needs (SEN) issues in English and Chinese in Hong Kong.  Over the past 40 years, we have been delivering a full range of early educational programmes, assessments and therapies. We were also the first centre to integrate typical and children with SEN into group sessions. Our children include those with learning difficulties, developmental delay, autism, Down’s syndrome and physical disabilities.

History

The Centre informally began in 1976 under the guidance of Mrs. Sarah Roe, an occupational therapist. You may have heard of Mrs. Roe since the only English language special school in Hong Kong is named after her. Mrs. Roe began organising a group in her apartment for English-speaking children with learning difficulties. The Matilda International Hospital was extremely supportive and offered available hospital space that could be used for a more formal playgroup. With the generous support of sponsors and parents, combined with a firm commitment from the Matilda Hospital, a purpose-built facility was opened on the grounds of the hospital in 1981 by Mrs. Anne Marden.

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The Child Development Centre at Matilda International Hospital

In 2010, the CDC opened a second location in Wan Chai, within the Tang Shiu Kin Hospital. The Wan Chai centre addressed the growing needs of families who could not access our Peak location and also families who are Chinese-speaking.

Another big milestone came in 2014, when we merged our two locations into one in a new service centre in Wan Chai. The new centre has purpose-built classrooms and therapy rooms, and is designed to maximise our ability to serve many children and families from diverse backgrounds. As we look to the future, we are encouraged by the generous support that we have received over the years. We hope to be a major change leader in Hong Kong to advocate and implement our belief of Individual Education for Individual Needs.