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74
The surrey Voluntary Association for the Blind continued
to help maintain these welfare services until the 31st March 1966.
The Kingston upon Thames Association for the Blind was
formed on the 6th May 1966 and is rapidly becoming established in
the borough. This Association was formed to take over from the
Surrey Voluntary Association for the Blind, the welfare of the blind
and partially sighted persons residing in the administrative area
of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, and to co-operate and
assist the Royal Borough as the authority directly responsible for
the welfare of the blind and partially sighted persons. This
Association co-operates with the clubs for the blind in the area
and also administers financial grants for a wide variety of
purposes, including holidays, special equipment, books, magazines,
clothing, bedding, fuel, fires and repairs to wireless sets, etc.
Homes for the Blind
The difficulty of finding vacancies in designated homes
for the blind has become still more acute. Of the 46 persons in
residential accommodation, only 7 are in designated homes. Blind
persons continue to be admitted to the Council's old people's homes
in spite of the fact that the homes are at present basically
unsuitable for this class of resident. The waiting list contains
4 blind persons in need of accommodation.
No provision has been made in the borough's Ten Year Plan
for a specialised home for blind persons, but the accommodation to
be provided in purpose-built homes included in the Ten Year Plan will
cater for the needs of some physically handicapped persons as well
as those who are blind.
This authority is very grateful for the assistance received
from many voluntary organisations. Frederick Banting House, Kingston
Hill, which is run by the British Diabetic Association, is to close next
year and this will leave a serious gap in the facilities available.
Domiciliary Visiting
Two social welfare officers for the blind (home teachers)
concentrate on the care of the blind and partially sighted persons in
the borough. The social welfare officers are generally responsible
for making the initial contact with the newly blind, a task demanding
understanding and knowledge in order to counter the shock both to the
person and relatives. It is necessary at first for a firm relationship
to be established by regular visits, in order to learn the needs
of the person and the home and to deal adequately with problems as they
arise. The social welfare officers teach Braille, Moon and handicrafts,
etc., and also arrange for the provision of talking books, wireless
sets, books and periodicals. A weekly handicraft class is held in
Surbiton.