Appeal For Handicapped

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32222, 14 February 1970, Page 18

Appeal For Handicapped

A wide range of services and facilities for intellectually handicapped children including day care and training centres, occupation groups, workshops, hostels and social workers, will benefit from the society’s annual house-to-house appeal to be held throughout New Zealand on March 7. The admiinistrator of the (Canterbury branch of the society IMr A. R Stewart I said that the Government's contribution to the costs of the society in New Zealand (was a little more than one (quarter of the total expenses and because of this individual branches had to raise finance (for buildings, equipment and transport as well as pay all running costs and maintenance. The total capital investment by the society in the buildings required to provide the services amounted to $1,220,835 at the beginning of last year and extensions

ana new uuiiaings umier construction at present amoun ted to $1,037,000. Income is derived from do nations, subscriptions and bequests, but the society ts mainly dependent on the proceeds of its annual appeal. Mr Stewart said that the traditional way of providing care and training during the last 20 or 30 years had been a comprehensive mental deficiency hospital which at-tempted-to meet all the medical, personal and social needs of the intellectually handicapped child tn an atmosphere of total institution "Increasingly, we have to swing towards living needs being met by small hostels or family and foster homes, medical needs by the local family doctor, plus all the services the community provides," he said. “It is generally accepted that it is important for the child to maintain contact with his own family and mix with other adults and children. Hence the practice for normal children whose own homes have broken down is to. place them in foster or family homes rather than in large orphanages and institutions. I

The same general principles of care are desirable for intellectually handicapped children. There can be no either-or argument, institutions versus community services. Both are essential and complementary. “In New Zealand we have fallen down on the provision of community services as a community responsibility." he said. In the Canterbury. South (Canterbury, Westland, Marl (borough, and Nelson areas the society has a variety <it activities catering specially for intellectually handicapped children In Christchurch 40 children from the age of two attend a day care and training centre and tn Ashburton a similar centre has a roll of seven. Another centre with an expected roll of six will be opened this month in West port. Plans for a new $BO,OOO centre to be built in AvonI side for the Canterbury branch have recently been completed "These centres aim at developing to the fullest, the po i lential of every child and at: the same time provide some i relief for mothers upon whose time the intellectually hand! i capped child makes many de- 1 mands," said Mr Stewart. I Occupation groups with a roll of from five to 11 are found mainly in smaller •entres such as Greyinoulh. Blenheim and Timaru For hese groups to be established he society or any other group if people provides the building while the Education Board supplies the teacher md equipment. Occupation ■entres which often develop from the smaller groups are entirely financed by Educa‘ion boards. There are two if these centres in Christ■hurch, one in Timaru and me in Nelson. ’ Both groups and centres provide training and other I activities which will enable’ he children to cope with ■imple everyday situations md develop some measure of ndpendepce Mr Stewart said that the demand for workshops to pro-i vide sheltered employment: was continually growing. In Blenheim it was hoped to have new workshops costing $40,000 completed by April and in Nelson extensions were planned. The Marlborough branch had a sub-: -ommittee in Kaikoura which ran a workshop twice a week. The Ashburton branch of the Intellectually Handicapped Childrens Society and the "rippled Children Society were combining to erect a $lO,OOO to $12,000 building soon, while in Timaru new workshops would be opened on February 18 In Christchurch the society envisaged closer association vith the Canterbury Sheltered Workshop Association and the Crippled Children Society in | working towards improved 'acuities. At present the Can'erbury branch's workshops n Worcester Street catered or 35 persons.

Hostels were of great value 'n providing relief ir> the home or for persons from rural areas, attending other services, said Mr Stewart. Accommodation was provided for 12 persons in the hostel in Timaru and other hostels in the South Island were at Dunedin and Invercargill. The Canterbury branch had incorporated several ‘family home’ units in the future development of its Avonside site, he said

Social workers were of * great assistance to parents m discussing problems and helping parents to understand and cope with the intellectually , j ■ u>u <■„. landicapped child in the family. Recently a field officer was appointed in Westland, hut in most areas a workshop , . or day care supervisor doubled as the social worker,