XN000022-1979-04-23 — Page 6

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MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1979

SHELTERED WORKSHOPS

JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DISABLED

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AN 18-YEAR-OLD MENTALLY RETARDED GIRL, WHO WAS FOR SOME TIME SEEN AS A BURDEN ON HER FAMILY, IS TODAY HAPPILY OCCUPIED AND LEADING A USEFUL WORKING LIFE.

AFTER UNCOVERING HER PLIGHT, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOUND HER A PLACE IN ONE OF ITS SHELTERED WORKSHOPS WHICH PROVIDE SIMPLE INDUSTRIAL WORK FOR THE DISABLED.

WORKING THE NORMAL EIGHT-HOUR DAY DOING CRAFTWORK, THE GIRL, APART FROM EARNING A MODERATE WAGE, IS BEING HELPED TO REGAIN CONFIDENCE AND ACQUIRE WORKING HABITS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY) SOME DISABLED PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THEIR DISABILITIES, MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER OPEN EMPLOYMENT AND A SHELTERED WORKSHOP WAS AIMED AT ENABLING THEM TO LEAD A USEFUL WORKING LIFE.

AT PRESENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THE DEPARTMENT IS RUNNING EIGHT SHELTERED WORKSHOPS OFFERING SIMPLE INDUSTRIAL WORK IN A SHELTERED ENVIRONMENT TO 700 DISABLED PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER BLIND, DEAF, EX-MENTAL PATIENTS, MENTALLY RETARDED OR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED.

THE DEPARTMENT PLANS TO SET UP 13 MORE SHELTERED WORKSHOPS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO PROVIDE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR 1,600 DISABLED PEOPLE, HE SAID.

+THE PROVISION OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT'S VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED AND TO HELP THEM INTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY, HE ADDED.

SHELTERED WORKSHOPS, HE SAID, ARE ALSO RUN BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WITH GOVERNMENT SUBVENTIONS.

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THE SPOKESMAN SAID SHELTERED WORKSHOPS WERE PURPOSE-BUILT, WITH FEATURES AND FACILITIES SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE DISABLED.

+FOR INSTANCE, THERE ARE HANDRAILS FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED, RAMPS FOR THOSE ON WHEELCHAIRS, AND EXTRA PRECAUTIONARY FITTINGS TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR THE WORKERS, HE SAID.

HE SAID SHELTERED WORKERS WERE ALSO PROVIDED WITH WELFARE BENEFITS WHICH INCLUDE FREE TRANSPORT, FREE LUNCH AND INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.

+THEY ARE PRIMARILY ENGAGED IN SIMPLE INDUSTRIAL WORK WHICH ARE EITHER PART-FINISHED, LABOUR-ADDED OR PACKAGING WITH THE MATERIALS SUPPLIED BY MANUFACTURERS.

+THEIR WORK IS SCHEDULED, TAUGHT AND SUPERVISED BY TRADE INSTRUCTORS AND THE WORKSHOP SUPERVISOR,+ HE SAID.

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