Bus training of handicapped

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33675, 26 October 1974, Page 16

Bus training of handicapped

Few people would realise the difficulties involved in training intellectually handicapped people to master the Christchurch bus routes, and to get off at the right stops. After many years of train-i ing, the 32 trainees who have been attending the Intellectually Handicapped workshops in Worcester Street have been able to learn that they get off the bus in Cathedral Square, and know where to catch their bus home again. However, their training will have to begin again, as the workshops have now been moved to new premises in Kilmarnock Street, Riccarton. The chief administrator of the Intellectually Handicapped Society (Mr J. E. Anderson) said yesterday that the trainees who range in age from 17 to 26, would begin work at the new workshops on Monday. “We are going to have an} interesting job training them, to get off the bus at Kilmarnock Street,” he said. 1 “We will mainly use patience, but it will be a fielding-out operation.” Parents will probably ride with the trainees on the first day, but for those who forget to get off the bus there will be three staff members in Cathedral Square to meet them and put them on a bus to Kilmarnock Street. Bus drivers, too. will be asked to help. “They are exceptionally good, and in most cases know our trainees.” said Mr Anderson. “We will approach them to : help us out.”