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HANDICAPPED PERSONS - GENERAL CLASSES
The main objectives in promoting the welfare of handicapped persons
are as follows:-
(a) To assist them to overcome the effects of their disability
and to obtain any available general, preventive or remedial
treatment.
(b) To give advice and guidance on personal problems and in
connection with any service, whether provided under any
enactment or rendered by any voluntary organisation, which
appears to be available to them and of which they wish to
take advantage.
(c) To encourage them to take part in the activities of social
centres and clubs.
(d) To use the best endeavours to arrange for voluntary workers
to visit handicapped persons with a view to affording them
comfort and encouragement and assistance in the solution of
domestic and other problems confronting them.
(e) To provide practical assistance in adaptations to the homes
of handicapped persons.
(f) To facilitate the taking of holidays.
(g) To provide facilities and assistance to handicapped persons
travelling to and from their homes to participate in any of
the services.
(h) To take such steps as are practical in consultation with
the Department of Employment and Productivity to assist a
handicapped person to secure any work for which he appears
to be fitted and which he is desirous of obtaining.
(i) To take such steps as are practicable to assist a handicapped
person who appears to be capable of benefiting from training
under the Education Act, 1944, or the Disabled Persons
(Employment) Acts, 1944 and 1958, and is desirous of taking
advantage of such training.
The Register of Handicapped Persons at 31st December, 1968, showed
a total of 1,352. During the year, 464 persons were added to the
Register. The grouping of disabilities is in accordance with the
Medical Research Council code of diseases and disabilities as used by
the Department of Employment and Productivity. Relevant statistics
are produced in Table I (page 111). An analysis of the disabilities
of the newly registered cases is shown in Table II (page 112).
Notifications concerning handicapped persons are received from
many sources and the circumstances of each case are investigated at the
earliest opportunity. 4,571 home visits have been carried out by the
social welfare officers. Arising from these visits, many needs have
been brought to notice resulting in 289 items being supplied. Such
are bath mats, bath boards, bath rails, bath seats, bath stools, bread
cutters, commodes, clocks, long handled dust pans and brushes, writing
frames, hoists, razors (electric and battery), raised toilet seats,
walking sticks, wooden tap turners, stocking aids and a Hoyer Lifter,
the cost of these totalling £691. 3s.l0d. In addition, articles of
medical loan equipment were issued where necessary.
The sum of £6l6. 7s. l0d. (£638. 9s. 2d.) has been spent on
special grants for handicapped persons on the following items:-