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An analysis of the employment and facilities for work
for the registered handicapped persons follows :-
So far as employment is concerned, the 933 registered handicapped persons
fall into the following groups:-
1. Capable of normal employment 112 In normal employment 112
2. Capable of sheltered In such sheltered
employment in accordance employment 23
with definition of the 36
Ministry of Labour
3. Capable of some work on 111 Attendance at Work Centre 57
part-time basis in very
sheltered conditions
(e.g.Work Centre)
4. Available as Homeworkers 46 Receiving outwork and/or 23
occupational therapy
5. Not available for work 613
6. Under 16 years of age 15
7. As yet not classified 9
Work Centre, Mulgrave Road
The Work Centre which is situated in former Civil Defence
premises was opened in May of 1967. A small number of handicapped persons
commenced attendance with a minimum of furniture and equipment then
available. The success of this venture was immediately apparent not
only in its provision of an occupational centre but also as a social
centre where disabled persons might meet together. The appointment
of a Supervisor together with a Technical Instructor to assist
allowed an expansion to an attendance of 28 - 35 handicapped persons
a day, not all attending every day but serving about 75 people in all.
The specially constructed ambulances have been extensively used for the
transport of handicapped people to the Work Centre and the extent to
which this service can be made available is one of the limiting factors
to the number of persons who can benefit by attendance.
The chief activity of the Centre is light industrial
assembly work, a smaller group still carry on with all the traditional
handicrafts. It is hoped that with a larger number of persons attending,
other diverse occupational activities will play an increasing part in the
life of the Centre, e.g. art groups, musical appreciation, discussion
groups, social evenings for the younger disabled and so on.
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