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The fortnightly Handicraft Class held at Highfield Hall continues to be very well
attended and undoubtedly fills a great need. There is still a great need for more transport
facilities in this respect.
Wireless for the Blind
The department acts as agents for this Fund and 30 new sets were received and
distributed to blind persons during 1970. Many of the older sets in need of repair were put in
order free of charge by the members of the Carshalton Technical College and were redistributed.
There are some 300 radio sets on loan to blind persons in the district. Some 100 wireless licence
exemption certificates were issued during the period under review.
Talking Books for the Blind
There are approximately 200 of these Talking Book machines on rental to blind
persons throughout the district and of this number 60 rentals of £3 per annum is paid by the
Social Services Committee on behalf of those blind persons in receipt of social security allowance.
In addition to this, a grant is also made to the National Library for the Blind in respect
of 25 blind readers who regularly obtain books in Braille or Moon from this source. £5 per annum
per reader is paid for this service.
Concessional Travel Tickets for the Blind
400 concessional bus tickets were distributed by the Blind Welfare Section during
November and December for use of blind persons and their guides on the Green and Red buses.
These tickets are valid for 3 years. Railway ticket vouchers are issued where necessary for blind
persons (with guides) undertaking train journeys for a specific reason, i.e. attending a London
hospital for examination of the eyes, or a blind child being taken to a special school/or school
holidays to allow his parent to travel to meet and bring him home.
Aids and Equipment
A stock of aids for the blind and partially-sighted is held in the Town Hall and
sold as and when required. This stock includes white sticks, rules and measures, all card games,
puzzles, dominoes, and chess outfits, self-threading needles, and many other aids and pieces
of equipment designed specially for the blind. These are all purchased at concessional rates
and many of the above articles are bought by the Sutton Association for the Blind and issued
free through this department.
Holidays for the Blind
There is a steady increase of blind persons going on holiday and this year 100
registered blind and partially-sighted persons and their guides were assisted with holiday
arrangements. Forms of application were completed here and forwarded to the various blind
associations who run hotels and homes in different parts of the country. In many cases the
fees for these holidays are received in the Social Services Department and forwarded to the
appropriate blind associations.
Two weeks before the actual holiday, medical certificates are obtained by this
department and again forwarded to the associations concerned. Travelling arrangements are
worked out and in many cases transport to the local railway station is provided by voluntary
drivers.
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