HELPING CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 84, 20 August 1948, Page 4

HELPING CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Today the Crippled Children's Society is making its annual appeal at Whakatane, and if the response is such as the cause merits, then the figure collected should be a record. Recently-published extracts from the Carlson report on cerebral palsy and its treatment should have given citizens some insight into the scope of the work the Society hopes to achieve in the future, but the tremendous amount it is doing already is probably not as widely realised as it should be. The annual appeal for crippled children is made on the grounds that there is much real sympathy for an unfortunate class, who, for no fault of theirs, are already handicapped in meeting life's problems. In this district, active cases at present number 50, and there are at least approximately 90 children under monthly supervision either at hospitals, clinics or homes. "With your help we are trying to supply each crippled child with educational opiportunities by way of vocational training which is not covered by State assistance, in the hope that they may become independent members of our community, able to earn their own living and enjoy a full life," says a circular from the Whakatane Sub-Centre. The Auckland Branch .of the Society, with Which Whakatane Sub-Centre is'affiliated, has 1285 cripples registered, has five fulltime Welfare Officers, and in this past year spent £6069 on its welfare work. The Whakatane SubCentre has operated for the past three years, and has progressed slowly but steadily to the point where it can now show real and lasting results.