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completely different after spending some time with us. His integration
into a group and the stimulation he gets from this and the staff, often
increases considerably his innate abilities.
A further very important part of our work is in parent counselling.
The parents can visit us at any time and see our methods. If the children
require physiotherapy, we insist that the parents visit us at least once a
week when the physiotherapist is present, and they learn how to help their
brain-damaged children for whom physiotherapy is part of daily life.
We are very fortunate to have for this work a physiotherapist as
interested and skilled as Mrs. Warwick. She takes endless trouble with the
children and with training the staff and the parents.
Many of the children spend a few months with us for their first
assessment and for help with their socialisation, and then leave the centre
and visit us from time to time so that their progress can be reviewed. Then
they come back for a few months before their final placement, so that they can
be accustomed again to group activities. The children with gross brain
damage who require constant physiotherapy stay the longest time with us, as
we really cannot estimate their capabilities when they have had intensive
treatment.
In 1969 we admitted 16 new children and discharged 15 and we had an
average daily attendance of 15.
Apart from the children who spend some time in the centre we are often
asked by the Medical Officers or Health Visitors to see handicapped children
whose parents are prepared to look after them at home, but want help and
advice and finally assessment for placement when they are old enough. In
1969 we dealt with 10 such cases at the centre.
During the year we have been able to continue our close association
with the Wolfson Centre in Great Ormond Street, and all our staff have
spent at least one day there, watching their methods of management and
assessment. This is a most advantageous association for us. We were
visited during the year by Dr. Pamela Zinkin and Dr. Reynell from the
Wolfson Centre, and they were as usual very helpful.
Another stimulating visit we had was from Dr. Mary Sheridan and Dr.
Hodgson. They came down to photograph their methods of testing vision in
mentally handicapped children. This was a most instructive and enjoyable
occasion for all of us.
Dr. Berman, the Reader in Child Dental Health at the London Hospital
continued to treat our children. He is, as usual, most helpful and shows
great interest in us, and sees that we have no difficulty in getting
appointments, and we are most grateful to him for this.
We also thank Mr. Lancer for dealing with our ophthalmological
problems. He is a great help, particularly with our little mongol children.
Finally I would like to thank the Heads of the Special Schools and
Centre where our children have been placed, for allowing, and indeed
welcoming, a visit from Sister Daly and myself at least once during the
year to see all the children. We have learnt a tremendous amount by
seeing their progress when they grow up placed into the correct environment.
Only by watching them do we know that our assessment and placing has
been correct!
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