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handicapped children as part of the ordinary child population with the need
to be educated within the range of their abilities. In practice such education
had been provided by Health Departments for a good many years but the
change did put an end to the classification of such children as "unsuitable
for education in school" and this in itself is less traumatic for parents.
These children are now classified as educationally subnormal in the same
way that other children are who have learning difficulties, needing education
in a special school of the Coldharbour type, geared to their needs.
Further benefits will undoubtedly flow from the change as teachers in
the former training centres are upgraded and more of therti take the training
courses which are available. The stimulus that the staff will receive by
coming into the mainstream of education, and ihe extra funds which it is
hoped will be available for buildings and equipment for these children should
mark a new watershed in our approach to their difficulties.
PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICE
Miss J. McBride, M.C.S.P., A.P.T.A. (Superintendent Physiotherapist)
In April 1971 when the Junior Training Centre was transferred to the
Education Department, our Service expanded its facilities to include mentally
handicapped children. There is now a part-time therapist working in the classrooms
treating children, instructing teachers in physical management, and
giving support to parents. Whether we talk of treating or teaching or training,
it is hoped that all the involved personnel are speaking the same language
for physiotherapy, as always, stands astride the dichotomy of medicine and
education. In spite of the lack of space, equipment and specialised furniture,
the therapists' presence has undoubtedly proved to be effective. It is impossible,
and also undesirable, to isolate the child's physical progress from
development in other ways because it is inter-related with learning, speech
and expression. Our job therefore is to help their development and to recognise
the limitations imposed by the varying maturity of each child. Further
interest must be stimulated and existing facilities expanded to include the
under five period if we are really to succeed in a total appraisal of these
children.
At St. Giles' School there are now 24 children with spina bifida and an
effective link has been established between them and Queen Mary's Hospital.
The "helping, caring, educating" approach is now fully established between
teachers and tnerapists, and it is generally agreed that looking at "the child
in the round" is the only solution to integrating these children with disabilities
into Society.
I must thank Miss Gillian Smith, M.C.S.P., for the credit which she
brought to the Department by a distinguished lecture to the Annual Spina
Bifida Conference in October.
Physiotherapy statistics will be found in Appendix B, on Page 61.