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145
Sheltered Employment
Due to retirement, there was a further fall in the total number
of registered blind employees in the Greenwich Workshops for the
Blind which is administered by the Directorate.
To the existing Mattress, Fend-off and Basket Departments the
possibility of adding a new department (that of woodworking,
making mainly toys) was explored but finally discarded.
As previously reported the present workshop buildings are antiquated
and unsuited to modern manufacturing requirements.
Comprehensive developments must, however, depend upon the
Report, which is still awaited, of the Working Party set up to
consider the needs not only of the blind but also of other physically
handicapped persons in South East London.
Blind Homeworkers
There is a scheme for the employment of the blind in their own
homes for which the Directorate is responsible and these homeworkers
pursue a variety of trades, e.g. basket making, machine
knitting and even a retail grocery shop. Seven Greenwich blind
homeworkers continued to participate in the scheme which is
supervised, on behalf of the Council, by the Royal National
Institute for the Blind.
Concessions
A registered blind person may be eligible for the following
concessions and action is taken by the department to ensure that
they are received:
(a) An increase in Social Security benefits.
(b) An exemption pass on London Transport buses which
allows the blind person and an escort to travel at the cost
of one fare.
(c) A certificate for the exemption of payment of a fee for a
wireless receiving licence.
(d) Provision of a free white stick by the Metropolitan Society
for the Blind.
(e) Free loan of a wireless set by the Society for the Blind.
(f) Free loan of a spark guard.