New approach to handicap

Press, 24 September 1980, Page 12

New approach to handicap

Important advances have been made overseas in the management of incontinence, and these will soon be made available to people in Christchurch, says the director of the Aids and Information Centre for the Handicapped, Miss Joan Davidson. Miss Davidson has returned from a six-week study tour of aids centres for the handicapped in Perth, Melbourne, Liverpool and London. She was New Zealand’s delegate at the World Confederation of Occupational Therapy conference in South Africa. “Incontinence remains one

of the most serious prob lems affecting disablec people of all ages. My mair aim in visiting other centres was to gain knowledge ol what is being done to manage the problem elsewhere,’ Miss Davidson said. In Lopdon, the Disabled Living Foundation employs a person whose sole responsibility is to investigate the management of incontinence and report on new developments. “Many management techniques are now available which we hope will help more people to reach a greater personal happiness. We have a duty to make

■ this possible/’ Miss David* I son said. The Aids and Information Centre for the Handicapped, ' which was set up in February, would run a special course on the management! of incontinence later . this year. “In this way the centre] will bring out into the open a problem which for too long has been shrouded in misery and doubt. Only by using the most open approach can the out-dated attitudes to incontinence .be overcome. The links with overseas centres wifi ibe a great stimulus,” Miss Davidson said. . . ; : |