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(6) An examination of all children sufficiently handicapped that
potentially they require special education takes place after the age
of 4 years. Recommendations are made regarding schooling and
attendance at Nursery Schools is advised when necessary and when
vacancies can be obtained. Unfortunately, insufficient vacancies are
available both for physically handicapped and socially handicapped
children.
*(7) A copy of recommendations regarding special education of
handicapped children is sent to the Welfare Section. Visits to these
children and young people by various interested Social Workers are
arranged to avoid overlap and over-visiting, but information is
provided for all Social Workers involved with the case, including the
Children's Officer when appropriate.
(8) Parents of children who are suspected of being mentally
retarded are invited to a Special Clinic staffed by a Medical Officer
particularly experienced in mental subnormality. Here regular
observation of the child's progress takes place and parents receive
advice on training and management of the child at home.
This Clinic also affords the opportunity for the Mental Health
Officer and parents to become acquainted in an early period of the
child's life. A recommendation may be made that the child should
attend a Nursery Class of an ordinary school or of the Junior
Training Centre. When the child is approaching the age of 5 years,
he is examined, often by the Medical Officer who knew him at the
Special Clinic, to ascertain whether he should enter an ordinary
school for a trial period, whether he should attend a school for
educationally subnormal children or attend the Training Centre.
(9) Blind children are invariably on the Risk Register or the
Handicapped Register from birth. They are visited by the Social
Worker who is a home teacher of the blind and is able to advise
parents on management and services available. Close co-operation
takes place between this Social Worker and the Health Visitor who
has a statutory duty to visit all children under the age of 5 years.
Care is again taken to ensure that the home is not overwhelmed by
a multiplicity of visitors. These children are reviewed again at the
age of two years, medical reports are obtained and information is
sent to the Medical Adviser who has an Ophthalmologist appointed
to his staff. A recommendation may be made for residential nursery
placement.
If the child ultimately attends a Day School for the partially
sighted, co-ordination of services is effected by the School Care
Committee. At the time of school leaving, the Welfare Social Worker
who has known the child from an early age and has kept in touch
with the family assumes the community care which is necessary both
if the young person is able to work and also if he is unemployable.