HANDICAPPED CHILDREN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28825, 20 February 1959, Page 2

HANDICAPPED CHILDREN

Society’s Work For Cripples

No fewer than 47 children have been registered with the Canterbury and West Coast branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society during the last three months and 15 different forms of crippling are included in the list, says a report from a meeting of the general committee of the branch. .

This information can\e from the branch’s medical advisory committee which also recorded that 28 children had been de-register-ed. Of this number four were cured, 20 required no further help and two died.

It was reported with much interest that two boys under the care of the branch had been accredited with university entrance and four other members had gained their school certificates. Branch field officers travelled more than 6000 miles in the last three months, and more than 200 homes had been visited. Advice on home care and treatment had been given to parents: and young folk had been advised and helped in their placement in employment, the report said. Special Cycles

Special small cycles, with outrigger wheels, recently purchased by the society have been most successful. These have been lent to several handicapped children, who were managing them very well. One small boy, after a few weeks use of one of these cycles was now able to ride without the outrigger wheels and could now manage a two-wheeled bicycle to school, as did the other children. Letters of appreciation had been received from the parents of two children who had been lent specially made wheel chairs. The weekly swimming class has been started again with a number of new children taking the place of those who are now able to cope with swimming at their schools. The secretary (Mrs J. MillerMead) in reporting on the activities of the branch since the last meeting said that all children registered had received gifts at Christmas, and invitations to parties and concerts.