View report page

- 118 -
The number of persons newly registered as blind during 1969 was 57,
twenty being men and thirty-seven women. Table I shows the distribution
in age groups of the 405 registered blind persons ordinarily resident in
the Borough. The majority of new registrations are in the age groups of
sixty-five and over, which is consistent with figures produced for
national statistics.
The analysis of causes of blindness in newly registered persons is
shown in Table II.
An analysis of the register showing the educations, training and
employment position is given in Tables III and IV.
It will be seen that a total of 281 persons are over sixty-five
years of age, leaving a total of 122 adults, of whom 50 are either not
available for, or not capable of, work,
At the Council's Rehabilitation Centre, Gertrude Street, a social
club for the blind is held every Tuesday. A social welfare officer,
who is a qualified home teacher, organises the club which has 70
members. Games equipment is provided and other activities included
a Christmas party and an outing.
Close liaison is maintained with voluntary organisations; viz.,
the Royal National Institute for the Blind; the London Association
for the Blind; the Southern Regional Association for the Blind;
St. Dunstan's and the National Library for the Blind. Referrals for
employment and training are made to the Disablement Resettlement
Officer of the Department of Employment and Productivity, with whom
consultation is arranged in cases of special difficulty.
The number of home visits made to blind persons during the year
was 1,484 (ls432).
A brief summary of the special facilities available to registered
blind persons is given below:-
Free wireless on loan from the Wireless for the Blind Fund
Free wireless licence
Free dog licence (for guide dogs)
Special postal rates for Braille literature
Free issue of white walking sticks
Loan of special equipment in approved instances
(i.e. talking books)
Free bus passes for escorts
Free railway fares for guide for special purposes
Braille literature
Library books in Braille or Moon type
Fire guards on loan
Specially designed aids and gadgets.