A review of the medical, educational and social needs of 207 handicapped children

Abstract

The Mary Sheridan Centre serves the needs of two health districts with a population of over half a million. The assessment of the handicapped child is combined with a Day Nursery and Observation Unit which provides therapeutic, educational and supportive guidance. During the year May 1973-74, 207 children were referred for assessment of whom only 11 were found to have no handicap. One-third of these referrals were from the hospital follow-up baby clinic and two-thirds came from community and general practitioner sources. The average age of referral was two years for girls and two and a half years for boys. Of the 196 handicapped children, 33 had neurological disorders, 30 congenital anomalies and 50 an adverse perinatal history. Social factors were thought to contribute significantly in 72; 35 children came from single parent families. Behaviour problems were noticed in a high proportion (68). Forty-four children regularly attend the Centre's day nursery whose staff include preschool teacher, occupational therapists and trained nurses for play, speech stimulation and specific therapy; 48 attend for speech therapy and 19 for physiotherapy. The prime aim is to help the parents continue with the therapy and care of their child in their own home.