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The demand for aids and gadgets continued to increase; these are issued on free loan, and are
invaluable in assisting the handicapped person. Three hundred and fifty-three such aids were issued including
metal walking aids, hoists, pick-up sticks, special knives and forks and can openers.
Fifty-three applications for adaptations to the home received approval, e.g. provision of toilets,
ramps, handrails and some major constructions as garages. Eighty-nine car badges were issued to disabled
drivers with medical certificates.
One hundred and ninety-five applicants applied for assisted holidays. One hundred and sixteen
were directly arranged by the Council, either in guest houses, where British Red Cross helpers assisted, or
in orthopaedic designed homes, like those run by Dorincourt Estates, Shaftesbury Society and the Jewish
Association for the Physically Handicapped. These latter homes make provision for more severe disabilities
by providing ground floor sleeping accommodation or lifts, easy access for wheel chairs to all parts of the
building, and numerous adaptations for the free movement of the individual. Most homes are situated within
easy reach of the sea, or in the country.
Families are encouraged to arrange a united holiday privately, and forty-eight applicants were
assisted. Thirty-one handicapped persons who stayed with relatives or friends secured financial aid from
the Council.
British Red Cross workers continued to teach crafts weekly at two handcraft classes during the afternoon
at 170/172 High Road, Willesden, and 563 High Road, Wembley, Council Welfare Assistants attended
An increased response was received for the five evening classes in choral, drama and dancing organised by
the Education Committee especially for handicapped persons. The combined choral classes took part in an
Annual Choral Festival on 29th October at Southgate Technical College.
There are four Social clubs, run by voluntary organisations; one of these was inaugurated on
16th August for the younger handicapped by the Greater London Association for the Disabled.
The Council continued to provide free transport facilities, including the use of two specially
adapted coaches with rear tail hoists to accommodate wheel chairs, and two adapted minibuses designed
for easy access and comfort. Four special coaches were placed free at the disposal of the Willesden Association
for the Welfare of the Handicapped for the annual outing to Sunbury-on-Thames on 4th June. A
number of Brent handicapped were conveyed to and from the Brent Show on 10th and 11th September.
The increased transport facilities aided immeasurably the opportunity for social contact and activity
amongst those persons normally housebound.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons.
Help has been afforded to the deaf and hard of hearing both in the social and employment field.
One hundred and ten congenitally deaf persons are on the register, and of these 45 between the
age of 16-29 years, required assistance in choice of employment. This necessitated the closest cooperation
between the Ministry of Labour and the Council, in seeking to provide suitable and appropriate
work.
There are two Clubs within the vicinity of Brent, meeting fortnightly; the Queensbury Deaf/Dumb
Club, and the Wembley and Willesden groups of the Middlesex and Surrey League of the Hard of Hearing.
The Council provides transport to the latter.
Close liaison is kept with voluntary organisations such as the Royal Association in Aid of the Deaf
and Dumb, the South East Regional Association for the Deaf, and the Middlesex and Surrey League of the
Hard of Hearing, to all of which the Council makes a grant, and also with the Royal National Institute of
the Deaf concerned with general welfare, and the training of officers at the College of Deaf Welfare.
REGISTRATION OF DISABLED PERSONS' OR OLD PERSONS' HOMES
Section 37 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, requires disabled persons' and old persons' homes
to be registered by the Council. There were two private old persons' homes on the register at the beginning
of the year:—
22, St. Gabriels Road, N.W.2.
28, Sedgcombe Avenue, Kenton,
and three disabled persons' homes:—
Residential Club for Blind Women,
32, The Avenue,
Brondesbury Park, N.W.6.
Residential Club for Blind Men,
63, Christchurch Avenue,
Brondesbury Park, N.W.6.
St. Nicholas Hostel for Deaf Youths,
11, Forty Lane,
Wembley.
On 12th September the London Transport (Retired Employees) Housing Association's Home for
30 old persons, at Forty Avenue, Wembley, was registered.
All these homes were inspected at regular intervals and a high standard is maintained.