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(d) Employment
Local authorities are given wide powers for promoting the
employment of physically handicapped persons. Many of the persons
included on the register are in fact fully employed and self
supporting. During the year under review no one has been placed in
sheltered employment, as distinct from residential accommodation under
Part III of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
(e) Outwork
The technical instructor, who was ill, was on his return to
employment, given the job of organising outwork for handicapped
persons, and a scheme was put into operation during April, and at the
same time a second ambulance was delivered and used extensively for
this purpose.
The outwork carried out by the handicapped in this connection
has consisted of packing bricks and toys for toy manufacturers and
putting small fittings into electrical apparatus for manufacturers.
The classes now being held are as follows:
Number of persons
attending
Monday (all day) 12-18
Tuesday (all day) 12-18
Thursday (all day) 12-18
Friday (all day) 12-18
Outwork has proved very popular with handicapped persons who
have preferred to attend these classes in preference to craft classes
because they have been able to earn a few shillings weekly for their
work. Social Security benefits are not affected unless the money
earned exceeds £2.0s.11d per week.
(f) Articles for Sale
Articles continued to be produced for certain retailers and
every effort is made to dispose of the other produce of the centre at
sales arranged by voluntary organisations. In this connection, the
Occupational Therapy Centre had a stall at the spring fair in May and
the Christmas fair in November, run by the Maiden and Coombe Community
Association at the Graham Spicer Institute.
(g) Voluntary Workshops
The Kingston Spastic Centre provides a workshop at 13 Geneva
Road, Kingston upon Thames for approximately 26 spastic young persons,
of whom approximately 15 live in the borough.