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18
ST. GILES' SCHOOL FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
Mr. Green, the Headmaster reports that the year 1963 has been
characterised by the continued development and consolidation of facilities
and organisation for the complete development of the handicapped
child.
Further progress has been made in reducing the size of the teaching
units - children with special learning difficulties were organised into
classes of about 10 children, so that the overall average size of class
in the School became 15.
The range of educational activities was once again widened; pottery
and archery, to name but two aspects, were added to the curriculum
Within the smaller teaching groups there was a noticeable improvement
in reading ability.
On the physical side it will be noted that the level of treatment
has again been increased. Routine medical examinations were held weekly,
hydrotherapy became a daily activity, whilst the total number of treatments
carried out in the Physiotherapy Dept., reached the very high
level of 6,765. Some 60 orthopaedic cases received regular treatment
along with 56 postural cases. During the year there was a further increase
in ancillary medical help.
Routine medical inspections took place on 23 occasions, 356 children
were inspected and 144 parents were present.
Specialist medical examinations were held termly by specialists in
orthopaedic and physical medicine, some 62 children being seen on these
occasions.
Speech therapy has been given regularly to an average of 21 children.
The Senior Speech Therapist also conducted a survey of the incidence
of Speech defects in the School. 199 children were examined,
some 60 of whom were found to have some defect of speech. Resulting
from this survey it was recommended that the speech therapy treatment
facilities should be increased.
The Nursing Sister, aided in certain duties by the Medical Attendants,
has carried out the preparations and follow-up of medical
examinations as well as the various prescribed courses of treatment; a
wide variety of ailments have been treated and full records of each
child's progress have been maintained.
The parents, Staff and children extend to Dr. Hegarty their most
grateful thanks and appreciation for her devoted work on behalf of the
children.