AID TO BACKWARD CHILDREN

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28001, 22 June 1956, Page 7

AID TO BACKWARD CHILDREN

State Provision Of Group Centres £1,000,000 EXPENDITURE IN THREE YEARS (New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL. June 21. Nearly £1.000,000 will be spent in the next three years by the Department of Health in building further accommodation for the intellectually handicapped. Announcing this, the Minister of Health (Mr J. R. Hanan) said that the programme was regarded as top priority by the department. Mr Hanan, who was opening Kindhaven, Invercargill’s short-stay home and occupational group centre for the intellectually handicapped, said it was hoped within two years to make the Orokonui Home, at Waitati. a home for the intellectually handicapped of Otago and Southland. Mr Hanan said that Levin and Templeton were going ahead at great speed, but he had been into the matter with officers of the department and it had been agreed that even the accelerated programme was not enough Mr Hanan said that the establishment of Orokonui as a home for the intellectually handicapped would fit in with an objective dear to the hearts of many Otago and Southland parents. “Facilities for specialist training and teaching will t be provided and the Education Department will co-operate in all respects.’’ said Mr Hanan

There would ultimately be about 300 in the school, which will cater for various ages and grades. In this way, children (and older ones) could be divided into their groups, in other schools, according to age and ability. The less handicapped would find great satisfaction in helping the others, he said. This stimulated pride and achievement and made them feel thev had a worthwhile job to do. It also helped the lower grades to achieve more for themselves - in the process “This,’’ said Mr Hanan, “is one of the greatest lessons I have learned since I have been Minister of Health and watched some of the less handicapped children helping and looking after others.” plicity of specifications for materials,