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113
Handicapped Register
At 31st December, 1968, the number of children under five years
of age assessed as either physically or mentally handicapped and
who may require special education was as follows:—
Spina Bifida 11
Limb Deformity 6
Visual Defects 11
Hearing Defects 17
Dual Handicap 30
Other Physical Handicaps 484
Mentally Retarded 90
649
These statistics indicate an increase of 28% in the number of
handicapped children living in Greenwich compared with the total
for 1967.
The Register is under regular surveillance so that the child and
its family are assured of all necessary support and plans can be
made for future needs. In this context some preliminary discussion
has taken place with officers of the Housing Department about the
future needs of the severely physically handicapped child who will
require special accommodation if he is to live successfully at home
with his family. Statistics will be provided to give some indication
of the number of such families in the Borough so that this may
be borne in mind when building programmes are decided.
Towards the end of the year, further plans were made to incorporate
the "At Risk", Handicapped and eventually the Deaf
Register into a Combined Observation Register. This is a mammoth
task and could not be attempted previously due to shortage
of medical and other staff. In December, 1968, an additional
Medical Officer joined the Department for clinical duties and she
is also undertaking the establishment of this comprehensive
register. Experience indicated that the supervision of handicapped
children was quite efficient despite the division of registration, but
the new Register will enable statistics to be obtained with greater
ease.
Deaf Register
(Including Partially Hearing)
The Register of deaf and partially-hearing children was continued
during the year and will be combined ultimately with the
Observation Register, although follow-up will continue to be the
responsibility of a Medical Officer and the social workers (Personal
Health Services).