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Special Unit for Sub-normal Children.
When this borough became responsible for the personal health
services in 1965, many field workers in the Health and Welfare
Department were of the opinion that there was urgent need for day
nursery accommodation for a number of mentally retarded children.
This would have the two-fold object of freeing mothers to devote more
time to other children in their families and of preparing the children
for admission to a training centre at the age of five.
In September, 1966, a special unit for nine retarded children
between the ages of three and five was opened in one of the Council's
day nurseries. This unit is self-contained in that the children have
their own play room and sanitary accommodation, but they are by no
means completely segregated and share outdoor playing space with the
normal children.
The matron of the nursery is experienced in the care of such
children and the nurses in the unit all have a special interest in the
work.
A higher staffing ratio allows for the greater demands made by
the social training of the children and for the individual attention
which must be given if theyare to dævlop as fully as possible within
their limitations.
Children who might benefit from attending this unit are
recommended by doctors, health visitors and mental welfare officers,
and are selected for admission after assessment by a medical officer.
The same doctor continues to supervise their progress and she reports
that almost all of the children at present in the unit show marked
improvement in their physical condition and social adjustment.
Attendances are good and parents are appreciative of the benefits
their children are receiving.
Typical case histories of children in the unit are given below:-
'A' was born with Rubella syndrome, i.e., a congenital heart lesion
and congenital cataract, was admitted to the unit in December, 1966,
although she was only two years old. She was then unable to walk,
was not toilet trained, made no attempt to talk and repeatedly
refused food. Now, at the age of two years and nine months, she makes
little attempt to talk, but is walking and co-operating with toilet
training and she eats fairly well, A heart operation has been
successful and, if this good progress is maintained, it is felt that
she will be fit for entry to a school for the physically handicapped
at five years of age.
•B. is a child suffering from mongolism, born to a family where there
was already a handicapped child. Since admission to the unit in
November, 1966,, at the age of three9 he has learnt to feed himself
and co-operate over toilet training; his speech has improved, he
plays normally with other children and it is expected that he will
be eligible for training centre admission at five years of age.
.C. is a mentally retarded childt, was admitted to the unit at the age
of three years in October, 1966. He was then severely retarded and
could stand only with supports he had no speech, could not feed
himself and was not toilet trained. He has now been attending the
unit regularly for ten months and has shown marked improvement. In
April, 1967, he could crawl and pick up objects, was using a spoon
and could drink from a cup with assistance. He can now feed himself