Handicapped children

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33063, 2 November 1972, Page 14

Handicapped children

Sir,—lt is gratifying to see the public and Government response for Marylands. How about the plight of the handicapped country child who is not fortunate enough to be accepted for Marylands or Hohepa homes, who lives too far from I.H.C. day care or school centres, and whose parents, because Templeton does not offer the kind of special care desired, are obliged to care for their child themselves, thus saving the Government considerable cost. We get nothing for a 24-hour-day, seven-days-a-week care of our child. No benefits to permit a little help in the home or relief. Society turns its back on these families and ignores their plight. We feel rejected and desolate. No-one, least of all the Government, cares a damn about the I.H.C. country child; we travel alone with our burden. I cannot believe we are the only family in this, predicament. — Yours, etc.,

JOSE SEYMOUR. Lake Pukaki, October 27, 1972. [Mr J. E. Anderson, chief administration officer of the Intellectually Handicapped Children’s Society, replies: “I agree that the plight of parents with intellectually handicapped children, especially when they are living far out in the back country, is indeed a difficult one. Very few people have the least idea of the enormous emotional strain which this can place upon the entire family of such a child. To set the records straight, while it is true that the Government gives this society a certain amount of help, such help is minimal—very minimal. We continue to exist because of public support and because we work unremittingly to raise the necessary money to keep going. To say that no-one gives a damn is untrue. I.H.C. gives a very large damn indeed. Right now, here in Christchurch, we are looking after children from as far away as Twizel in the south and Hawarden in the north. We do not, and cannot, know of the existence and whereabouts of every handicapped child unless the parents approach us. If Mr Seymour or any other country parent would like to write to this society, they can be entirely sure that we will give to them all the help which it is within our power to give, and that we shall do so with the very greatest pleasure.”]