Help for the handicapped

Press, 5 December 1981, Page 16

Help for the handicapped

Joan Davidson, of the Aids and Information Centre for the Handicapped at the Building Centre in Christchurch, commends the book “Disabled” as being especially worthy of attention in the International Year of the Disabled. . The book, by Dr P. Nichols, and published by David and Charles Publishers, Newton Abbot, England, has the sub-title “An Illustrated Manual of Help and Self Help.” Ms Davidson writes: This book sets out to attract people who have an interest in the disabled and will help anyone to cope better with living with a disablement. It is divided into sections dealing with aspects of disabil-ity-getting about, the home environment, personal care, relationships, social contact and a reference section. Emphasis is placed on methods of doing certain things, as well as on aids which may be used. Thus, a helper is shown lifting methods to help a severely disabled person to sit up;

a disabled mother is shown a variety of methods of putting a nappy on a baby. Helpful charts show advantages and disadvantages of certain aspects relevant to the disabled. Where else can you find set out the advantages of an ordinary school and of a special school? The book is clearly set out with handy hints given in a separate column. Under the section of Eating and Drinking, aids are noted, along with hints on diet and the effects of various aspects of diet on the disabled. The section on relationships deals discreetly with sexual adjustments as well as with mother-child relationships and other areas of family living. Finally, I quote a sample of the book's handy hints “Egg shells will break in two if you drop them from a height of (2230cm). Then the pieces of shell can easily be removed.” This, along with many other ideas in this book, will be useful for many of us—not just for disabled people.