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Recourse has been made to the Minister of Health for arbitration regarding the acceptance of financial
responsibility for a resident in a Brent Borough old persons' home who was of no fixed abode.
A critical survey of bed use and the status of admissions to and discharges from residential accommodation,
was undertaken during the year, and it is sought to have the results published. This should reveal the
present function which these residential beds at the moment fulfil and should help in assessing spheres in
which the use of these beds perhaps could be put to greater advantage.
WELFARE OF THE BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED
Blind Persons
On 31st December, there were 566 persons on the register. There were 71 new cases (excluding recertifications
and transfers from other areas) during the year. The majority of referrals for registration came
from Hospitals. The classification of blind persons by age groups and at age of onset of blindness are shown in
Tables 21 and 22. One hundred and thirty-one of the registered blind persons suffer from additional physical
and/or mental handicaps.
Four children are under 5 years of age, 3 of whom are sub-normal. One of the sub-normal children
is in Northaw House Children's Hospital near Potters Bar and the other 2 sub-normal children and the normal
child are at home. Of the 11 children of school age, 5 attend Special Schools, one is awaiting entry to a
Special School, and of two with dual handicaps, one attends the Melbreth Training School for Spastic and
the other Condover Hall for Blind Children. Three are unsuitable for school, of whom one attends the
Neasden Junior Training Centre and the other two remain at home. Two boys of 16 years continued their
education at Dorton House.
One hundred and twenty-one persons were in full employment, and an analysis of their occupations is
shown in Table 23.
Four hundred and thirty persons were unemployable or unavailable for work; of these 53 were in
accommodation provided by local authorities and 16 were in hospital for extended periods.
Two persons were sent by the Council on a 13 week Social Rehabilitation Course arranged by the
Royal National Institute for the Blind at Oldbury Grange, Bridgenorth, and one person continued to attend
Warwick Row Rehabilitation Centre, S.W.I.
Domiciliary visits to both blind and partially sighted persons were made by social workers with an
average case load of 150. Individual teaching was given in both Braille reading and writing, Moon type reading
and typewriting.
Five handcraft classes were held weekly in the afternoons; two evening classes in elementary and
advanced cookery, organised by the Education Committee, were introduced and were very successful. Successful
competitors took part in the Annual Handcraft Exhibtion staged by the Middlesex Association for the
Blind in May.
At Brent Show on 9th and 10th September an exhibition, competition for handcrafts, and sale of
goods made by blind and other physically handicapped persons, was staged. Braille, chair-caning, basketry,
light assembly work, and dressmaking on a specially adapted sewing machine suitable for the handicapped,
were demonstrated continuously by registered persons in each category. A sale of work was held at Brent
House on 17th November.
A total of 332 wireless sets have been issued on behalf of the British Wireless for the Blind; 84 were
issued during the year, of which 63 were the new type portable transistor set. The rental of Talking Book
machines issued by the British Talking Book Service for the Blind was paid by the Council in respect of 165
readers. There were 29 new issues during the year. Various Braille and Moon magazines were circulated free.
One hundred and forty-two free aids, e.g. typewriters, watches, electric shavers, alarm clocks, pingers,
bread cutters, etc., were issued.
Ninety-nine applicants applied for assisted holidays. Forty-six were directly arranged by the Council,
including two parties under the supervision of social workers, one party going to Clacton and the other to the
National and Local Government Officers' Association Holiday Centre at Croyde Bay. The remainder went
to holiday homes run by the Royal National Institute for the Blind, and the Middlesex Association for the
Blind.
Thirty-nine applicants were assisted to have privately arranged holidays, and 14 persons who stayed
with relatives or friends received financial aid from the Council.
Free transport facilities to clubs and classes continued to be provided free by the Council.
Partially Sighted Persons
On 31st December, there were 184 persons on the register. There were 41 new cases (excluding recertifications
and transfers from other areas) during the year. Ten persons were transferred to the blind
register.
The classification of partially sighted persons by age groups is as follows:—
Under 5 years 3
5—15 21
16—20 10
21—49 34
50—64 31
65 and over 85
Three children under 5 years of age remained at home. Of the 21 children of school age, 19
attend special schools for the partially sighted, one attends ordinary school, and one is at Lower Place School
for the Physically Handicapped.