SERIOUS PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 50, 28 February 1934, Page 11

SERIOUS PROBLEM

CRIPPLED CHILDREN

VALUABLE SOCIAL MOVEMENT

A STKONG- APPEAL

The question of the care of the crippled children of the Dominion has been brought prominently before the Rotary Dominion Conference at . New Plymouth by the report of a special committee. The committee (District Governor T. C. List, Kotarians Dr. Alex Gillies and Lem Watkins), which was set •up by the presidents' and secretaries' assembly in Wellington last August, has drawn up a report containing much, information as to the number of crippled children in New Zealand and as to the nature of their disability.

" The investigations and inquiries of the committee indicate that there are at present over 5000 crippled and deformed children in the Dominion, ■ and that the number is being added to at the rate of over 500 per annum. The thrfee main causes, states the committee's report, are: (a) Tuberculosis of bones and joints; (b) infantile paralysis; and (c) accidents. • . , ■ AGES OF CHILDREN., "These are not all badly crippled: some may be .but slightly crippled. It is, however, important not to minimise the number. The average does not'include crippling due to. (1) malformation.; (2) to results of accidents other than industrial, such .as motor accidents; (3) to osteomyelitis, -which leaves many badly crippled; (4) to rheumatism or arthritis of children; (5) other diseases of bones and joints too numerous to mention. Malformation includes congenital dislocations of the hips and club feet. In the "Wellington Hospital last year there were 21 children treated for; congenital deformities of feet alone. The ages of some were 10 hours, one'month, 4£ months; two cases, five months; 6$ months, .7} months, 1 year', 14 months, 3 1 years, and the rest ranged from 9 to 17 years. As a 1 result of proper treatment these children will not all be cripples. "The survey made two years ago of cripples in school by the. Director of Education showed that in the inadequate returns'there were' in the State schools over 900 cripples, who were crippled comparatively badly. Roughly speaking, the standards were froni'l to VI, a rough average of 150 cripples in each standard throughout' New Zealand. '.-■': FINE WORK IN HOSPITALS. "The hospitals in New, Zealand are doing a fine work in the: care of the physical side of the children," says the report, "but there are occasions when parents living, away from the centres where highly-specialised orthopaedic services are available cannot avail themselves of the specialised treatment., "No,child should be denied any treatment by reason of the inability of its parents to pay the expenses involved, and therefore the committee suggests that the society to be formed should establish, a fund from which to meet such cases.

"Every crippled child has the right to considerate treatment, not only from those responsible for its being and for its care, treatment, education, training, and. placement, but from thoso: with whom, it is thrown into daily contact, and every possible influence should be exerted by .the society to bo formed to secure-this .right, in order that, so far as, possible, the crippled child may.be spared the stinging jibe or the, bitter taunt, or, worse still, the demoralising pity of ..its associates. ,;

"Every crippled child has the Tight to spiritual, as well as bodily development, and, without regard to particular religious or! denominational belief, vis entitled to have nourishment for soulgrowth. ■■'....

"Not only for its own.'sake, but for the benefit of society as. a whole, the committee definitely affirms, that every crippled child has the right to the best body which modern science can help it to secure; thebest mind Which modern education can provide; the best, training which modern .vocational guidance can give; r the . best position in life which his physical condition, perfected as best it may be, will permit, and the best opportunity for; spiritual development which its environment affords. THE COMMUNITY ASPECT. "The -work waiting to be done ,is something more than, the alleviation or the cure of - crippledom. It is the training and equipping of a child to become an asset instead, of a liability to the community., The aim' should be to fit the child for a place in society; to give it hope and confidence in itself; to take it out of its depressing environment of self-pity in which it is so often surrounded, and to show that it has a part to_ play in the scheme- of life.' '.'lt is obvious that -when a crippled child has finished its elementary school education he is less fitted to cop© with life and earn a living than if he were in possession of Ms normal faculties. "Often attention is centred on a defective limb of a child with a view to overcoming the handicap, instead of developing the other faculties the child might possess."

The report refers to the work being done in America, New South' Wales, and in other places for the assistance of cripples.'

COMMITTEE'S RECOM- ':. • ■ MENDATIONS. '

The', committee recommends:—-

1. That the Sotary clubs of the fifty-third district should make the mental or psychological condition of the crippled children of the Dominion a major activity instead of, as now, a major sympathy. Accordingly, it suggests that steps be taken immediately by every Rotary club to form a branch in its.community of a Crippled Children's Society, to interest all sections (especially women organisations) interested in humanitarian work in its work, and generally to ensure the successful functioning of the society. 2. Such society to be responsible for the care of the crippled children within its sphere of influence.

3. That members of Eotary clubs be asked to personally employ a cripple wherever possible in their own businesses or industries.

4. That branches of the society be supplied with such particulars as the committee possesses of tho names and nature of the troubles of cripples in each district, these particulars to be supplemented from time to time by the reports which tho Minister of Education has undertaken to make available. Besides, the branches'should be asked to mako.an independent survey of the handicapped children within their area, and to help complete a register of the cripples.

The committee recommends that the society take measures to raise a fund of £2000 for the. carrying out of this important social and humanitarian work.