View report page

145
Services for
the
Handicapped
The number of physically handicapped people on the Register continues
to increase, underlining the wisdom of appointing a part-time
occupational therapist during the year, and the addition of a further 80
persons on the register is also reflected in the increase in the number of
aids and adaptations. Structural alterations have also increased in
number and include the installation of two electric stair lifts for the
first time, which enable the handicapped persons involved to have complete
use of their houses.
Publicity was again afforded both by the Borough and by the Redbridge
Association for the Handicapped to highlight the needs of the
handicapped - the "Welcome to Citizenship" Exhibition in October being
thrown open to the public, of whom some 1,500 persons attended, and the
quarterly news letter "Wheels Away" from the Redbridge Association for
the Handicapped being distributed to over 1,000 handicapped persons in
the borough.
The use of our transport outside office hours by voluntary organisations
has increased and a notable success was achieved in conjunction
with the Rotary Club and Marks and Spencers in a joint experiment in
Christmas shopping for the handicapped.
Unfbrtunately the number of physically handicapped on our waiting
list for Fellowship House Occupational Centre continues to increase, but
the quality of goods produced was reflected again in Christmas sales
which rose to a new highest ever figure of £600. It is hoped that we will
soon be in a position to expand occupational centre facilities in order,
not only to absorb the waiting list, but also to extend the number of daily
attendances possible for the handicapped.
In our services for the blind and deaf, there has been a small increase
on both registers, but blind class activities were curtailed for a few
months due to ibuiIding defects, and shortage of staff compelled some
curtailment of visiting the partially sighted on our register. This position
we hope to rectify in the near future.
A number of blind and handicapped joined the old people's holiday
week at Corton Camp and others were accommodated via voluntary organisations
who cater for specific types or degrees of handicap. For the
handicapped, the Council also hired a hotel at Ramsgate, providing an