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138
Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons' Bill which amounts almost
to a "charter" for the disabled. Although unlikely to be opposed,
its implementation cannot be expected to begin over-night if for
no other reason than the financial implication, a circumstance
which local authorities could not have foreseen and made provision
for in their current estimates. However, much of what the
Bill contains is already common practice in this Borough and,
apart from expansion, no drastic alteration in our services is
anticipated.
From 6th to 11th October the Borough participated in the
"Help the Disabled Week" and an exhibition on the theme of
"Serve the Disabled" was held at the Victoria Hall, Woolwich.
Several statutory and voluntary agencies provided exhibits and
the Health Education Section set out displays illustrating the
services provided by the Directorate. Attendances at this exhibition,
however, were somewhat disappointing. Unfortunately,
the Victoria Hall is not accessible to many handicapped persons
and it has to be acknowledged that there is no alternative suitable
venue within the Borough.
Arrangements for holidays, shopping expeditions and Christmas
parties continued as before with great success.
Departmental registers cover not only the blind and partially
sighted but the deaf and dumb and those persons severely or
permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity
and efforts made to make these registers more comprehensive is
shown by the overall total which, at the end of the year, was 115
higher than that for 1968.

The rate of registered blindness in Greenwich at 1.85 is slightly
more favourable than that for Greater London (2.11) and for
England and Wales (2.09).