View report page

82
Home Workers Scheme
The home workers scheme is organised by the Home Industries Department
of the Royal National Institute for the Blind at Reigate, Surrey. Blind home
workers are employed in a variety of occupations and supervision of these
workers is carried out by visiting officers of the Home Industries Department.
The Council is responsible for two home workers, one of whom does
radio and electrical repairs, and the other is a piano tuner.
Sheltered Workshops
The Council is responsible for one employee in a sheltered workshop
at Waterloo, under the auspices of the Royal School for the Blind.
Residential Accommodation
The number of registered blind and partially sighted persons in
residential accommodation as at 31st December 19^7 was as follows:
In homes for the blind - 9 women, - men )
Total 51
In other homes - 34 women, 8 men
Every effort has been made to place blind persons in the homes of
their choice, but it is hoped to integrate a percentage of blind persons into
the Council's old people's homes when new purpose built homes are available.
Social Rehabilitation
The main centres for social rehabilitation are situated at Oldbury
Grange, Bridgnorth, Manor House, Torquay, and America Lodge, Torquay.
These centres are administered by the Royal National Institute for the Blind,
and it may be found that after a short period of social rehabilitation a blind
or partially sighted person is suitable for an industrial rehabilitation course.
Oldbury Grange caters for social rehabilitation mainly for housewives and men
in the upper age group, and a period of such rehabilitation is often a great
help in enabling a newly blind person to settle down to normal domiciliary
environment.
One newly blind lady was sent for a period of social rehabilitation
at Oldbury Grange during the year.