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151
Mixing the physically handicapped and the mentally ill is an
experiment which has proved most successful, for the readiness
of these persons with differing handicaps to assist each other has
resulted in substantial mutual benefit.
On her last visit, a Ministry Welfare Officer agreed that these
ventures had prospered and that the practicability of such schemes
had been proved.
Once again there was difficulty in admitting as many physically
handicapped persons as we would have liked owing to lack of
suitable transport. Vacant places could always have been filled
by the mentally ill but this would have disturbed the balance and
efficacy of mixed groups and thereby vitiated our agreed policy.
Seaside outings, Christmas parties and visits to the theatre have
been arranged by both Centres.
Federation Centre
Progress at the Centre was maintained and interest sustained
by the variability of the work which has been mainly contract
woodwork such as interwoven fencing, scissor racks, display
frames, repairs to department's office furniture, making of aids for
the physically disabled and some simple carding and display
of stationery supplies.
Our aim to introduce two lathes during the current year was
circumvented by difficulties with the District Surveyor and owners
of property regarding the provision of an external store. This
would have freed the internal store for the installation of machinery
thus enabling the Centre to become even more progressive. There
are hopes that the situation will be resolved during the coming year.
Riverdale Centre
This Centre, besides having to cope with premises which are
somewhat less than ideal, caters for the more chronic type of
physically handicapped and, therefore, cannot hope to make substantial
advances. However, it does meet the needs of a number of
persons and the more severely handicapped young are accommodated
in a separate room and provided with special care. A
small group of chest cases also uses this Centre one afternoon each
week.
Persons attending the Centre do so mainly on a one, two or three
day basis although a few attend for five days per week. Because
the capability of these people is lower than that at the Federation
Centre, work is restricted to carding and display of stationery