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139
freshness of their viewpoint often results in questions being asked that
have not been asked before, while the attempt to explain what is being done
results in new formulations of problems and their possible solutions.
Possibly the most important gain is in future staffing as some students
are unsponsored by Local Authorities and consequently free to accept
offers of employment on completing training. A department that takes
students and provides them with a professionally stimulating experience
rarely has difficulty in finding new staff of high quality or retaining
those who come to them. Experience has shown that close involvement
with student training is good for staff morale and considerably improves
a department's standards.
Services
for the
Handicapped
From the statistics it can be seen that the number of physically
handicapped on the register has again increased this year by 14% to
1,030. This is reflected by an increase in the number of aids and gadgets
issued and whilst the number of adaptations to premises remains
numerically the same there has been a greater proportion of major adaptations
such as construction of ground floor toilets and shower units.
In our endeavours to publicize the needs of the handicapped the
Borough again took part in the National Help the Disabled week in conjunction
with the Redbridge Association for the Handicapped arranging
among other events a local church service at St. Laurence's, Donnington
Road, and an exhibition of Aids for the Disabled at Congregational
Church Hall, Woodford Avenue, Gants Hill.
Our need for local expansion of Occupational Centre activity is
again emphasised by an increase in the numbers on the waiting list and
the fact that many handicapped who would benefit by daily attendance
are restricted to two days per week only at Fellowship House. The high
quality of goods produced is however reflected by the fact that Christmas
sales produced over £100.
The number of deaf and blind on our registers remains fairly constant
as does the weekly attendance at the Deaf Club held at Fullwell
Cross Day Centre. 1968 was the centenary year for the R.N.I.B. the
occasion being marked by the issue of £1 gift vouchers to all registered
blind persons. This Authority avails itself of many R.N.I.B. services
including re-habilitative workshop and holiday facilities for the blind.
For severely disabled drivers in the Borough eighty car badges
were issued and our scheme extended to allow the drivers to park free of
charge at parking meters in addition to the specified off-street parking
areas.