HEALTH NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1929, Page 28 (Supplement)

HEALTH NOTES

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE. PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILD (Contributed bv the Department of Health). Among the factors affecting human efficiency and happiness some method of ensuring so far as ’3 Practicable that every individual shall be placed in a occupation for which he is physically fitted is one of the most important. Apart from other considerations there can be nothing more discouraging than the realisation that the time spent in training a child could have been more wisely and profitably used in another sphere. This is particularly so in regard to a child suffering from some physical handicap such as defective rearing, poor physique, and so on. The recognition of these facts has led in recent years to investigations having for their object the cataloguing of various occupations according to the aptitude and capacities required in them. Whilst the majority of our children in New Zealand arc physically fit to earn their living in any ’’-ay of life that circumstances, inclination, or luck may open to tbe.n, there area few children suffering from the results of some illness, accident, or constitutional weak ness which unfits them for certain occupations. Such children can never be successful or happy unless given-an occupation within their powers of accomplishment, and it is worth every effort to get them suited. Parents and guardians seldom know what occupations a child with a given defect should avoid, nor what he should seek, and some very tragic failures occir. in consequence. Of course if a child is exceptionally gifted in any direction, the problem of choosing its occupation is much simplified, and exceptional talent, .especially when combined with character-and perseverance, will triumph over almost any physical handicap. However, for the rank and file of our children without exceptional gifts to compensate physical delects, these few suggestions are supplied; The occupations mentioned here are iiev by aay means exhaustive, but may serve as a guide. No attempt has been made to distinguish betwee i the social values er the cost of training in the various occupations, for physeaL defect s -occur in all walks of life, and in all require thought. . > Defective sight and defective hear.ng are two of the commonest defeats occurring in individuals who are robust physically anl. mentally. DEFECTIVE SIGHT. For those suffering from .defective sight, especially short sight, the following occupations are suitable: —Various grades of shop work, baking, domestic work,' poultry farming, piano, tuning (musician if musically- endowed), per haps teaching, the church, or law or agriculture, journalism (according to the degree of short sight)., For those who are practically blind the choice is small. But there are bas-ket-making, typing, massage and pianotuning; or, again, those who are talented can become musicians. The shortsighted person should particularly avoid engineering, building work on railways, work amongst machinery, wool-c’assing and sewiiig. DEFECTIVE HEARING. Defective hearing, in certain occupations is a miieii greeter handicaj. tiian is usually realised. It is practically incurable and tends . frequently to getworse later in life. Even slight degrees therefore should prevent a parent putting a child into the first job that offers. The child who is deaf must particularly avoid work on railways, vehicle driving, auctioneering, medicine, shop serving .and stenography where taking down dictation is involved. . Occupations in which he (or she) maybe successful, according to the degree of deafness, are carpentry-, cabinetmaking, tailoring, shoemaking, mail sort ■ ing, poultry farming, general agricultural work, plumbing, wool classing, fishing, blacksmithing. For girls there is domestic work, cooking, millinery, dressmaking, wool classing, poultry farming, bee farming.

GENERAL POOR PHYSIQUE. . Then there is the weakly, delicate child, undersized and unlikely to develop later into' average strength. These are the children in particular whose gifts and perseverance will often lead them to succeed where others will fail. The general rule which should guide a parent in selecting their occupation is to choose one where skill, craftsmanship and intelligence aie more important than brute strength. Thus he may do most of those occupations generally alluded to as '•business.' Shop salesmanship (excluding very heavy goods), watchmaking (if possessed of mechanical tendencies), leadlight working, wire working, photography, re-towlr.ug, clerical work, tailoring, shoemaking, saddlery, signwriting, dressmaking, millinery, poultry farming, law, the '.Lurch are all occupations he can manage. He must particularly avoid those occppations where muscular strength is important, such as general labour, agricultural work, sailor, wharf labourer. DEFECTIVE HEART. The placing of the child with heart trouble is always a source of anxiety to the parent. Those so afflicted should not undertake any very heavy, tiring work. In particular, they should avoid work which entails sudden strain, such as lifting heavy weights, hurrying and so on. If possible, they are better to do something .where they are their own ‘'boss,” so that on their bad days they can slack off or miss a day’s work. They must, therefore, avoid general labou?, general agricultural work, sailor, wharf labourer. Girls should not do heavy domestic work, such as washing, scrubbing or lifting heavy pots. •Sedentary occupations are usually best for them, such as law, clerical work, journalism, shoemaking, tailoring, or they can do photography, retouching, watchmaking (if they have a mechanical bent). Girls can do sewing, millinery, typing, etc. THE LOSS OR CRIPPLING OF A LIMB This abviously incapacitates the.vcitim from a wide range of occupations. Of these the loss of one leg is probably the least misfortune. Choice must be made from some of the . occupations mentioned under the heading of “Defective Heart” and •'General Poor Phyffque.” Where i. th legs are invoked choice 's i'l'aci .a/y limited to

sedentary occupations. For those who ■brandies of clerical work (accountancy, etc.), commercial traveller, auctioneer, wool classing, and perhaps bee farming. TUBERCULOSIS. Children with a tendency to tuberculosis may live long and healthy lives if they are given a suitable occupation. Gardening in all its branches, let-ter-carrying. signwriting, keeping a shop, open to the air, such as a railway bookshop, taxi-driving, and last, but not least, delivering supplies in the country. Anyone with a tendency to tuberculosis should avoid heavy labour, occupations producing dust, especially mining and quarrying, and occupations in close atmospheres, and the care of animals. EPILEPSY. Epilepsy is a terrible affliction which sadly restricts the sufferer’s choice of work. Gardening and agriculture (not stoclc work) and sowing seem to be the best occupations. Occupations to be especially avoided are railway work, anything taking the sufferer amongst traffic, such as driving, anything taking him up ladders, etc., such as building, blacksmithing, medicine, teaching, the charge of children. Even cooking is undesirable because of the danger of falling into the fire. Although the main object in writing this article has been to help parents in the placing of their children, the same considerations apply to those acquiring similar disabilities later in life, rendering it impossible for them to continue in their prevous occupation. Remember: In the selection of a career for children suffering from disabilities, parents should consult the school teacher, school medical officer, and their own medical attendant.