Tikumu’s letter

Press, 19 May 1981, Page 20

Tikumu’s letter

... De® Peacfe Did you?know that the disabled have had a place in scouting for riiany years/ and. ? that; they -are encouraged to join? . In areas throughout-New Zealand organisers .have ;the. special job of;, bringing disabled boys into, the movemerit. /_■/ /,.'/”/ The national organiser is Mr Bruce Oliver of Christchurch. ;. > There;;is:-no; special programme for’them. They do not need one. The challenge

for the disabled is to use /..their; Skills -anti;’ in itiatiye /to “be 7 prepared’’ ;: for . everything. ■''-/:/■’ ■/ They attend national jamborees, camps, hikes and. outings; < and .they / work, / for badges on equal terms with / fellow scouts. Even the most severely disabled take part in adventurous climbing exercises with the aid of-spe-cial equipment to provide the support they need. ’ " One of the best things about being part of a troop is ■ the companionship of being together -- sharing interests and getting to know other Scouts. / '■ ' "'//’ ■■’:///

The National jamboree held every three years is-a meeting ■ place. for scouts • from all over New Zealand, and from countries, sometimes as far afield as- . Canada, the Cook Islands, "Fiji; India, Japan, Korea, Norway and Sweden; Thousands attended the jamboree held this year at Hastings during the Christmas holidays. ■ ‘ : A memorable feature of the event was a new type of programme arranged by disabled scouts. It offered a fair

challenge even to the able-bodied-majority. •/ •

After being shown how to read braille and to speak in the sign language of the deaf they were invited to use these-two special means of communication. Many played a game ; of wheel-chair- basketball. In September a special camp for disabled scouts will be held in Brisbane. Six New Zealanders have been invited. At present Mr Oliver is trying to arrange sponsors to make the trip possible for six .scouts. ■ uII&MU.