New Training Centre For Intellectually Handicapped

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30191, 24 July 1963, Page 2

New Training Centre For Intellectually Handicapped

Activities for 15 young men and women in Christchurch are being provided at the new training centre at 192 Worcester street of the Intellectually Handicapped * Children’s Society. As well as arts and crafts, those attending can now tackle simple wookwork, cooking and homecraft.

In its roomy new quarters, the centre could cope with up to 30 trainees, and it was now in a position to welcome inquiries from parents of other intellectually handicapped sons or daughters who could benefit from attending the centre, said Mr T. Christensen, president of the society, yesterday.

The centre will probably have its official opening later this year.

The training centre is for the “over-18 group” who can no longer attend the occupation centre in Merivale lane. Until recent years the needs of thia older group were completely ignored, Mr Christensen said. After they had to leave the occupation centre, their existence aeemed to concern no-one but the parents, he said. Even now, apart from a Government subsidy on building costs, the society had to raise all the money necessary to pay staff, maintain buildings and buy materials for arts and crafts.

In 1952 an association of parents of intellectually handicapped children began to organise classes w-hich were held in Sunday school halls, but space and facilities were limited and only some craft work was possible.

“They had to work and eat in the same room,” Mr Christensen said. Woodwork Instruction

In the new light and airy workshop, which was built and equipped by the Junior Chamber as a gift to the society, the supervisor of the training centre (Mr H. S. Cross) gives woodwork instruction and helps trainees in their work. They have learned to use hammer and nails and are at present assembling and nailing seedboxes from pre-cut parts.

Under the guidance of Mrs J. Coveney, women trainees take turns to assist with meal preparations (a hot dinner is cooked for everyone once a week), simple cooking, including the making of scones, queen cakes and pikelets, and cleaning the centre. As well as cooking and cleaning, singing classes and varied craft work, supervised by Mrs J. Morton, are carried out in the big day-room, where bright paintings on the wall, a cheerful fire, large windows and am open piano in the comer combine to make a homely atmosphere for the trainees as they work at toys, rag mats, and shopping bags. Need For Staff

One of the problems of the centre is to get staff who are trained in tending and working with intellectually handicapped persons. There are training courses in England, but none in New Zealand. Over the last 12 years, 20 training centres have been opened throughout New Zealand and there is a shortage of trained staff. Voluntary assistance from interested organisations could go a long way to help the situation, said Mr D. W. Sampson, secretary of the society. With more staff to help and supervise, trainees could be given individual attention, he said.

Another way the society could be assisted was by the

offer of suitable work, of a commercial nature, that trainees could do.

"There are probably a number of small jobs in industry that could be done here. Simple time-absorbing jobs are ideal for the trainees, who get a real kick out of being able to carry out work within their ability,” he said. The centre, which is openfour days a week, catered for those who were not capable of learning to support themselves, and who lived at home with their parents, Mr Sampson said. As well as helping the trainees, the centre helped to relieve pressure on the parents. Transport was often a problem. Caring for the intellectually handicapped was an important and growing need, Mr Christensen said. In helping those at the centre to develop and use their skills and abilities, the training centre was providing a valuable service to the whole community.