View report page

partially-sighted and 5 blind children under the age of 16 years 6 of whom
were at Special Schools One young blind person over 16 years of age was still
at school and one partially-sighted young person was at a Technical College
The County Council provides a Home Teaching Service for the visitation of
blind and partially-sighted people in their own homes, the object of which is
to enable partially-sighted and blind people to lead as full and active lives
as their handicap allows The duties of the Home Teachers include advising
blind and partially-sighted persons on all problems relating to their welfare
and of all the available social services, assisting them in overcoming the
effects of their disabilities, giving instruction in Braille and Moon systems
of embossed type and in handcrafts Deaf-Blind persons also receive the services
of a special Home Teacher for the Deaf-Blind A handcraft class is held fortnightly
at Christ Church Hall, Turnham Green
The majority of blind persons are either not able to take employment owing
to age or infirmity, or for some reason are not available for employment Amongst
the latter are housewives who may receive instruction in carrying out their
household duties in their own homes from the Home Teachers at special classes^
or in residential courses of social rehabilitation
An Old Time Dancing Class for the Blind is held weekly in Ealing and a
number of blind residents in the Borough attended this The County Council works
in close co-operation with voluntary Organisations,, including (a) The Middlesex
Association for the Blind, who maintain a Holiday Home at Littlehampton, two
Residential Homes for the Blind and assist individual necessitous blind persons
and (b) the Social Club for the Blind which meets fortnightly at Christ Church
Hall This Club is maintained and managed by a voluntary Committee, and there
are 35 members on the Club Register The meeting is a social gathering with
an average attendance of 25,, with occasional talks,, and more usually entertainment
A Christmas dinner and Concert and a Summer Excursion to the coast were
arranged in 1963 Members may go away for holidays at reduced prices to two
caravans at Lancing, Sussex provided by public subscription from the citizens
of Brentford and Chiswick and maintained by Middlesex Association for the Blind
The British Wireless for the Blind Fund supplies wireless sets to registered
blind persons through the County Council which maintains all sets for blind
and partially-sighted persons
Other services provided directly by the County Council or through a Registered
agency, 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 handcraft
material assistance in the disposal of handcrafts, 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 are operated by the County Council s Welfare Department under
the National Assistance Act, 1948 these cover tiie deaf and dumb and hard of
hearing,, and other persons who are substantially and permanently handicapped by
crippling diseases or congenital deformity
The County Council s Welfare Department has provided four Welfare Visitors
for persons in the Borough who are suffering from substantial and permanent
handicaps other than those already mentioned and they work under the direction
of the Area Welfare Officer They visit such persons in their own homes with
a view to assisting them to obtain from statutory or voluntary sources (or both)
facilities, appliances, etc , which may benefit them,, The help afforded may
42