AID TO CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 17

AID TO CRIPPLED CHILDREN

RAG DRIVE TO RAISE FUNDS

SOCIETY’S WORK IN BRANCH AREA

Physically - handicapped children need something more than medical treatment: they need to be taught how to live with their .disability and to adjust themselves to take their place in the community. This is one of the ways in which the New Zealand Crippled Children Society assists them in other practical ways the society’s oft cers help parents, too. They call for children at their homes, drive them to hospital for treatment, and drive them home again.

’’Transport is really our main work, and it is greatly appreciated by mothers,” said the secretary of the Canterbury and West Coast branch (Mrs N. E. Wade) yesterday. “Women who have several small children cannot possibly take a crippled member of the family into hospital for treatment perhaps three times a week, and most of these disabled children cannot travel alone.”

Miss E. Iverson is the society’s fulltime transport officer. The branch provides wheel chairs to lend to crippled children, and recently had made 13 more of the most modern desi n to give all possible assistance to the users. The branch’s headquarters at 262 Antigua street is well equipped with other amenities such as special chairs for children with dislocated hips, twin prams, tricycles, and equipment for hobbies, which give these children life-time leisure interests. To raise funds for its work, the branch will begin a rag drive on Tuesday. A fie’d officer. Miss J. Cradock, says her duty is mainly one of giving moral support to parents, crippied children, and their brothers and sisters. But this is an understatement. Miss Cradock’s long hours are spent advising parents and helping them to solve problems of a medical, social, educational and vocational nature, which arise in the lives of disabled children. She also discusses With parents facilities available for crippled children, such as vocational guidance. Apart from her routine visits to hospitals and private homes. Miss Cradock makes regular calls to country districts as an adviser and lecturer. Her area extends from the Clarence river in the north to the Rangitata river in the south. Miss" Cradock is also an auxiliary transport driver. Hobbies Group

On Friday afternoons and during school holidays, children are given instruction in handwork under the supervision of Mrs R. Allmgton. They do charcoal stencilling, paper and felt work, plaster casting, tapestry, drawnthread work, and knitting. Most of the children are able to make Mother’s Day gifts, birthday presents, attractive Yule logs for Christmas decorations, and greeting cards. When they become absorbed in making things with their hands, the young craftsmen soon lose their self-consciousness and temporarily, at least, forget they have a disability. The society’s main source of income comes from its annua] rag drive. Organisers throw over householders’ fences neatly folded sacks carrying a "red letter.” which tells of the society’s aims and needs. Sacks of rails are collected on a given date. Last year 100 tons of waste ra<?s was sold by the branch for £l6OO. the highest amount reached by the appeal. The waste rags, after being collected and sorted, are sold for flock making and waste paper products. Many well-wishers of the society sort out waste rags from their linen cupboards and deliver them to the branch office in Antigua street. ‘‘We don’t ask for monev when collecting waste rags, but we are always extremely graceful for donations, subscriptions. and legacies to augment our income from the rag drive.” Mrs Wade said.