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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. They
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.
During the year assistance was given as follows:
1 newly blind person was sent on a social rehabilitation course
31 people were in attendance at the handicraft class
23 people made articles in their own homes as occupational
therapy
6 people were taught Braille
6 people were taught Moon
20 people were given radio sets supplied by the British
Wireless Fund for the Blind
Kingston upon Thames Association for the Blind
The blind and partially sighted persons in the borough have the support
of a voluntary organisation - the Kingston upon Thames Association for the Blind,
in addition to the services provided by the local authority, central government
and national agencies. This Association supplements the statutory services
and provides the extras which might not be otherwise available, and makes grants
for a wide variety of purposes, including holidays, special equipment, books,
magazines, clothing, bedding, fuel, fires and repairs to wireless sets.
Welfare of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
(a) The Register
The number of persons with total or substantial hearing loss registered
with the department shows an increase of 29 over the previous year and the total
number on the register at the present time is 111. This increase does not stem
from an actual increase in the number of deaf and hard of hearing persons within
the borough, but rather from the activities of the department in exercising their