Rural training aids disabled

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 7, 17 July 1984, Page 10

Rural training aids disabled

A short course at Massey University seems certain to have created new opportunities*for the intellectually handicapped. Some twenty-seven instructors Rural Training Units, established by the New Zealand Society for the Intellectually Handicapped throughout the country, met

recently to look at new ways of incorporating horticultural practices into their ' training programmes. ] The demands on these j rural training units are increasing all the time, according to Mr Keith Williamson, President of the Manawatu Branch of the Society and a participant at the course. The traditional idea of getting the intellectually handicapped sitting down inside, folding things, no longer applies, he said. Rural training has become popular and now many are blossommg in a healthy outdoor environment doing work they erjoy. But Mr WHiamson made it clear that to get the best results, the right kind of work needs to be arranged. Intellectually handicapped people have only limited ability and it could be a special skill which allows them to develop to their maximum potential. "This is why the Massey course has been so important" he said. "Our instructors were overwhelmed by the amount of information available on horticulture at the University. They discussed new methods with Massey staff and at the end of the course were confident of being able to use many new ideas in their training programmes.'"