HELP FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 33, 27 August 1952, Page 6

HELP FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN

STREET DAY OOLLECTION ON SATURDAY There is to be a Street Collection day in Taupo on Saturday next, August 30th., the cause is a humane

and worthy one, and it is hoped that it will be generously supported. The Rotorua Sub-Centre of the New Zealand Crippled Children's Society, which includes the Taupo area, is anxious to have a closer connection with our community, through the establishment of a committee to ensure that early advice of any cases here may enable specialists treatment to be provided. The Rotorua Sub-Centre has suggested a meeting with interested people in Taupo with the object of setting up such a committee. They have been in touch by letter with Dr West, Mrs Geoghan, and Messrs J. D. Swan, R. Cosson, and G. A. Acres, on the subject, and it is understood that appropriate action will be taken at an early date. The Rotorua Sub-Centre is one of six in the area covered by the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand 'Society for Crippled Children, which is an indication of the growth of this beneficient movement. In visiting cases, arranging clinics in various towns and in liaison with schools, medical practitionersj j and Governrnent Departments, the field ofhcers of the Auckland Branch hav^) covered many thousands of miles. The excejlent work they have performed is revealed in the minutes of the cases committees. An examination of the minutes shows an increased number of children benefiting from the services of the Branch speech , therapist, occupational therapists, and visiting teachers. A more personal approach to the needs of individua! cases- is indicated by the large number of special cases to whom assistance was granted during the year. This assistance included the provision of schooi taxi transport for children who would otherwise ;have been jhomebeund, boarding allowances to children enquired to live away from their homes in order to attend suitable schools or occupati and in the payment of sur- 5 gical and travelling expenses for j deserving cases. All types of invalid chairs have been provided, grants have been made to allow the adjustment of vehicles to the needs of several cases, and two interest-free loans have been advanced to assist young people in the purchase of new iowpowered motor vehicles, which have assisted them to follow their chosen cccupations. ;