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69
Welfare Services for the Handicapped
The care of handicapped persons is one of the main services for which
the Welfare Section is responsible and the demand for assistance has been
steadily increasing for several years. Their welfare is the concern of four
social workers who visit the handicapped in their homes and by discussing
their problems with them arrive at ways of enabling them to lead as
independent and full a life as possible within their capabilities. To assist
them the Borough provides approximately 80 different types of appliances
and 316 items were issued during the year. Records show that the majority
of aids issued were those designed to assist the handicapped in bathrooms
and toilets. To increase further the degree of independence it is often
necessary to make minor adaptations to handicapped persons' homes such
as installing handrails in toilets or bathrooms or on staircases. Less
frequently major alterations are considered necessary and these range from
the construction of ramps to the provision of downstairs showers and
toilets. Twenty-five major and minor adaptations to homes were completed
during the year.
The work centre for handicapped persons continued to be fully
attended by those unable to work in open industry or sheltered employment.
Arrangements are being completed to provide accommodation
suitable for expanding this service and it is hoped that the work centre
will be able to move to its new building early in 1969.
The need for social activities is predominant in the lives of handicapped
persons and the Happy Circle Club and the Arrow Club organised by the
Borough have proved to be very successful. The Arrow Club is exclusively
for the younger handicapped, and has 35 members, while the Happy
Circle membership has increased to 40.
With the co-operation of the British Red Cross Society a weekly
handicraft class is held,attended by approximately 50 handicapped persons.
In addition the Borough provides transport for a number of voluntary
organisations who organise regular social functions, classes and clubs for
handicapped persons in Harrow.
Holidays were arranged for 80 handicapped persons who would not
otherwise have been able to manage a holiday. Various hotels and guest
houses were utilized, some of which cater especially for handicapped
persons. 1 am indebted to the volunteers who undertook the necessary
escort duties and thus enabled the handicapped persons to have an
enjoyable holiday.
The proprietors of Sopers of Harrow Ltd., and Littlewoods Stores
were approached again this year and very kindly agreed to remain open on
a Wednesday afternoon exclusively for handicapped persons to do their
Christmas shopping. This worthwhile venture was made possible by the
many volunteers who acted as escorts, pushed wheelchairs and generally
assisted in every way. I am most grateful for the efforts of all concerned.