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Welfare Services for the Handicapped
Due to the effect of increased publicity of the services available to
handicapped persons it was envisaged that the number of persons on the
register would increase and this proved to be the case. The number at
the end of year was 1,057 which is an increase of 211 for the year.
The problems facing physically handicapped persons are numerous
and varied and it is the Council's ultimate desire to provide services and
assistance to enable them to be as independent as possible and lead a full
and useful life. To achieve this aids of every description are issued,
adaptations to homes carried out, and facilities made available for their
social needs. During the year 559 aids were issued. These range from
small items such as special cutlery to electrically operated hoists.
Adaptations were provided in 72 handicapped persons homes.
For social activities the club for handicapped persons and the club
for the younger handicapped persons were well attended and the British
Red Cross weekly handcraft class is still very popular. In addition many
of the handicapped persons attend the social activities provided by the
various voluntary organisations in Harrow. The Education Department
organises a choral class for handicapped persons and this continued to be
well attended during the year. Transport still presents a problem which
restricts the number able to attend social activities but it is anticipated
that more vehicles will be available next year.