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Other services are provided by the County Council either directly or through a registered
agency and these include facilities for the placement of blind persons in employment,
courses of residential rehabilitation, training courses for mothers with blind babies, the
supply of embossed literature, special equipment and handicraft materials, assistance in
the disposal of handicrafts and assisted holidays for those in need.
Welfare of Handicapped Persons other than Blind:
Schemes for the welfare of handicapped persons other than blind and partially-sighted
which are operated by the County Council's Welfare Department under the National
Assistance Act, 1948, provide welfare services for the deaf and dumb and hard-of-hearing,
and other persons who are substantially and permanently handicapped by disease, injury
or congenital deformity.
Services to the deaf-and-dumb and the hard-of-hearing are provided by appropriate
Voluntary Organisations, to which the County Council makes grants in aid.
For statutory Welfare purposes, until November, 1963, the Borough of Southall
formed part of Area 9, of Middlesex County Council which includes also the Boroughs of
Brentford and Chiswick, and Heston and Isleworth. From November, 1963, it has formed
part of Area 7, which includes also the Boroughs of Acton and Ealing. Four Social Workers
and an Industrial Work Organiser are included in the staff which has been provided by the
County Council's Welfare Department for carrying out social services required, and who
visit those suffering from substantial and permanent handicaps. They work from the Local
Area Welfare Office and the handicapped persons are visited in their own homes with a
view to assisting them to obtain services from statutory or voluntary sources.
The County Council supplies aids and appliances not covered by the National Health
Service and carries out where necessary adaptations to a house to enable a handicapped
person to become more mobile, provides holidays, arranges for the disabled to take part in
social activities, including choral and dancing classes, attend handicraft classes, etc. Special
coaches with a hydraulic hoist to lift wheelchair cases are available for use for social
activities, etc. Advice and guidance regarding personal problems are given and membership
of voluntary organisations catering for particular handicaps is facilitated.
The Industrial Work Organiser endeavours to procure from industry appropriate
assembly work and arranges for this to be carried out by handicapped persons at a Work
Centre or in their own homes where this is considered to be suitable and of assistance to the
individuals concerned.
At 31st December, 1963, 88 residents of the Borough were registered as generally
handicapped.
Alterations to seven houses to make them more suitable for handicapped persons were
made as follows:—
Flat: Rail at back door to assist over steps.
House: Wooden raised toilet seat to outside toilet and rails on wall.
Flat: During building, an extra doorway between the kitchen and living
room was provided, other doorways widened, the sink put at the
right height, a bath substituted with recessed handles similar to those
used in old people's dwellings and ramps made to the front and back
doors.
Flat: Wooden ramps and platform at front door.
Flat: Pavement crossover and concrete base for invalid carriage shed.
House: Handrail on wall above bath.
House: Ramp from french window into garden.
Under the County provision of Chiropody Service, several physically handicapped
persons received domiciliary chiropody treatment in 1963.
Residents of the Borough needing any of the County Welfare Services briefly referred
to in this Report should apply to the Area Welfare Officer, Mr. D. C. Davids, Bedford
Hall, Bedford Road, London, W.13.
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