The Child Development Centre

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.

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.