London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Bromley 1965

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]

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80
ultimately for placement in open industry or sheltered employment.
The Ministry also makes grants to local authorities towards the
cost of providing employment for blind persons in Workshops for
the Blind and in Home Workers' Schemes.
St. Dunstans
80. Is responsible for the training, settlement and after care of
men and women blinded on war service. Many trades and occupations
are taught to St. Dunstaners, including typewriting and
shorthand, physiotherapy, telephony, machine operating, shopkeeping,
poultry farming, joinery, basket-making, netting, rugmaking
and weaving. St. Dunstans have a Training Centre and
Holiday Home at Ovingdean, Brighton, and a Convalescent Home
at Portland Place, Brighton. They also own many houses and
bungalows which are rented by St. Dunstaners, and employ welfare
officers to visit the war blinded. There are 15 St. Dunstaners in
this area.
Wireless for the Blind Fund
81. Wireless sets, both battery and mains, are supplied on loan to
registered blind persons who do not have a set of their own. The
British Wireless for the Blind Fund provides the sets and the distribution
is carried out through the Kent County Association for the
Blind. An annual appeal for funds for the British Wireless for the
Blind Fund is made on the radio on Christmas Day.
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
82. The Association has set up training centres at Bolton, Exeter,
Leamington Spa and Forfar. A person must be registered as blind
before he or she can apply for a dog. The Association is prepared
to supply a fully-trained guide dog to any suitable registered blind
person, provided the person qualifies at one of the training centres,
no matter what it has cost the Association to train both dog and
blind person. It is stipulated that before a dog is handed over the
blind person makes a token payment, which may be as little as 5/-.
3 blind men and 2 women who live in the London Borough of
Bromley have Guide Dogs. One of the women owners is employed
as a Lecturer by the Association.
The Royal National Institute for the Blind
83. Very few blind persons can go through fife without sooner or
later requiring the services provide by the Royal National Institute
for the Blind. The activities of this voluntary organisation include:
1. Publication of books and periodicals in Braille and Moon
types;
2. Recording of Talking Books;