Who We Are
WELCOME
Greetings and welcome to Growing Together’s upgraded website. We hope that the site will provide valuable information and resources for parents, family members and others who care for and support individuals with special educational needs (SEN).
Growing Together (GT) was established in 1999 by a group of five charities providing services for non-Cantonese speaking individuals with SEN. The member charities of GT are: The CDC at Matilda, The Nesbitt Centre, The Springboard Project, The Rainbow Project and the Watchdog Early Learning and Development Centre. GT was originally established to provide a fundraising and public awareness platform for these organizations and the services they provide for individuals with SEN. The charter of GT has evolved and now includes a strong emphasis on advocacy for the rights of all persons with special needs in Hong Kong, including non-Cantonese speaking (NCS) individuals. Advocacy focus areas include securing appropriate educational provisions for NCS students with SEN, establishing an education continuum that enables all individuals with SEN to live independently and productively within the Hong Kong community and addressing and eliminating the discrimination NCS students with SEN are subjected to through the existing policies of the administration and the EDB.
Since March 2007, GT has worked with its member organizations, parent and volunteer supporters to carry out its advocacy efforts. GT has prepared and presented to the administration positions papers outlining the deficiencies in existing educational programming for NCS students with SEN accompanied with recommendations for policy and systemic changes. GT worked closely with individual legislators to bring this matter to the attention of the Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo), the EDB and the administration. GT has utilized its parent and volunteer support base in a variety of ways including organizing presentations to the LegCo subcommittee concerned with issues relating to children with SEN, implementing a letter writing campaign to Donald Tsang, Hong Kong's Chief Executive, highlighting individual experiences within Hong Kong's education system and overseeing a media campaign including print and radio coverage. In 2009, GT sent delegates to Geneva to attend China’s country presentation to the United Nation’s Universal Periodic Review on the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and also met with other representatives to the United Nations during their visit to Hong Kong earlier this year.
Our updates website is the latest initiative to provide support to the SEN community here in Hong Kong. As you browse through the pages you will find a variety of articles, abstracts, links and other resources pulled together to simplify information gathering. We hope that you will find our site a valuable tool.
Thank you for visiting and please consider becoming a member of Growing Together. Working together we can work for an inclusive society for people of all ages with SEN.
Abbi DeLessio
Chairperson, Growing Together
WHO WE ARE
Growing Together initiatives are led by a dynamic group of individuals who collectively have extensive years of experience working to improve the quality and standard of education for children with special educational needs (SEN) in Hong Kong.
Abbi DeLessio has been a supporter of various non-profit organizations since her relocation to Hong Kong in July 2004. Her association with Growing Together began in March 2007 through her role as Development Director for the Watchdog Early Education Centre, one of Growing Together’s member charities. Abbi has been Chair of Growing Together since January 2009. While at Watchdog, Abbi directed campaigns to raise funds for the expansion of Watchdog’s programming as well as to raise awareness of the need for proper provisions for all of Hong Kong’s special needs children. Abbi still maintains her position as Director of Watchdog’s Charity Luncheon and Fashion Show. Abbi is also the Vice-Chair of the Hong Kong International School Board of Managers.
May Chow is the Vice-Chair of Growing Together. She brings valuable experience to this position with her current positions as Operations Director of the Child Development Centre, as well as a key figure of the Springboard Project, located at the Korean International School.
Virginia Wilson is brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Growing Together as the organization's current Treasurer. In addition to being the Executive Director of the Child Development Centre, she is also the Chairperson for the Jockey Club Sarah Roe School.
Alan Mercer is the Secretary of Growing Together. Alan's vast contribution to the organization is led by his knowledgeable experience as Chairperson of the Rainbow Project, which is located on the premises of Hong Kong Academy.
Iris is the Project Manager of Growing Together. She is a mother of three, beautiful children, one of whom--her son, Lucas--has been a part of the local Special Educational Needs community since arriving to Hong Kong in 2006. Prior to joining Growing Together, Iris held professions in Marketing, Strategy, and Consulting. She is excited to be back working in an area that supports a cause close to heart.
CONTACT
For further inquiries and information regarding Growing Together, contact Iris Yamanaka at iris@growingtogether.org.hk OR irisyamanaka@gmail.com.