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Very few children indeed have only one handicap. The majority have two
or more, some of which are secondary - "a handicap breeds handicaps". The
main handicap is usually obvious; the others are generally less obvious and,
therefore, may be missed, but are as detrimental to the child's future as the
main handicap if not dealt with.
The analysis of information obtained from the Observation/Handicap
Register provides valuable indications as to what improvement should be made in
all the services for handicapped children and stresses priorities. It may also
suggest ways for better deployment of professional workers (of whom there is a
great shortage).
The Observation/Handicap Register for under fives in this Local Authority
was made the responsibility of a Senior Medical Officer on whose medical
judgement based on evidence obtained, the child's name is entered on the
Register. A continuous review of information and a continuing assessment
enables appropriate recommendations to be varied and a considered decision
reached before final removal from the Handicap Register.
Every case submitted for entry into the Observation/Handicap Register
has to be confirmed by the diagnosis of a Hospital consultant.
Not all children on the Observation/Handicap Register require the same
degree of care; not all of them remain on the Register for the same length of
time. All of them, however, require a great deal of thought and time for the
right decision to be made.
The following information has been obtained from analysis of the
Observation/Handicap Register