New Britain herald., 1930-10-29
Newington Home Superin- tendent Would Make h. stitutional Care Compul- sory-J. L. Goodwin Re- elected President at An nual Meeting.
Especial to the HeraldN

Especial to the Herald)
 Newington, Oct. 29 The adop- tion of state law requiring parents of crippled children 10 see that those children are given proper medical attention and institutional care was urged by Miss Constance Leigh, superintendent of the New ington Home for Crippled Children, at the annual meeting of that insti- tuition yesterday afternoon. Parents frequently object to sending their unfortunate children to homes such as that in Newingtop, Miss Leigh said, and sometimes cannot be con- vinced that this action would great ly benefit the cripples, so she sug- sested statute giving institutional authorities full power to take chil- dren in such cases and see that they received the needed care. This recommendation was contained in Miss Ieigh's annual report, which was accepted by the directors.
 James Lester Goodwin of Hart ford was reelected president of the home and will be assisted by the following officers: Nice-presdents, lsidore Wise of Hartford and Gov. John H. Trumbull; secretary, Rev. Remsen B. Ogilby, president of Trinity College; treasurer, the Hart ford Connecticut Trust Co.,; and as- sistant treasurer, Mrs. David E. Bernard of Hartford.
 Members of the board of direct OTIS: Mrs. David E. Bernard, Mrs. John Buck, Hartford: F. A. Moore, New Britain. Philip B. Stanley, New Britain Governor Trumbull: Clar- "nce E. Whitney, Hartford; Isidore Wise.
 Needs At Last Realized
 Miss Leigh's report, in parts, fol- lows:
 If there is one more encoura ginS phase than another in this whole field of work for crippled children I think it is the fact that people are at last beginning to realize the ne- costly for combined and unified program h their care-their physi- cal reconstruction is so imperative; their educational growth and gener- al development so rigidly essential; their vocational guidance and train ing indispensable; and finally, their suitable placement in profession or industry insuring economic indc- pcndence. Not one of these branches alone but all of them together, cara fully planned and functioning, is the only solution in the way of a com- plete program for their care. Are we meeting these requirements Well l don't know. but at least We can honestly say we are trying.
 One hundred and thirty-one chill dren have been admitted to our home this year of which 25 were re- admissions. Some of this group were obliged to be returned to us owing to lack of parental care and cooperation and the others for nec- essary additional reconstructive treatment.
 One hundred and sixty children have been brought to us at our weekly clinics for examination, diag- nosis and recommendation. Sevep- ty children have been returned to their homes after receiving treat ment and perhaps che of the most significant and encouraging features about the whole years work is that l new communities in the state have requested service for their crippled children.
 New Attitude Toward Cripples
 Commenting on this last point think one would feel that physical deformities which to the minds of | the general public have hitherto seemed such insurmountable handi- caps are each year being considered so much more wisely and practically | and that the distaste or despair with | which crippled children were once viewed is gradually giving place 10 a constructive determination to do something about it.
 Every crippled child salvage1 | treated and returned to it's commu- nifty cured or even improved, is the strongest possible argument in favor of remedial care for others and oft on in the case of unwilling and re- fractory parents a very important factor in obtaining consent and CO., operation in the care of their own crippled child.
 Parental Objections Found
 Tn 14 cases parents have refused | treatment and as yet in Connecticut | we have no law which can or may | interfere and prevent parents from | allowing their crippled children to | grow up into ignorant. neglected | crippledom absolutely removed | from any real participation in the | adventure of living.
 Each year 1 bring up this same | complicated point and l again ask | you to contrast the busy, healthy, | happy group here at NeWinGton surrounded by constructive plans for the development of future use fitness with the isolated. unhappy 1 child whose parents refuse treat ment and by so doing condemn them in most cases to lives of hclplessness and enforced idleness.
 This is one of the places where I feel that Newington should take initiative and leadership forging her way through ignorance and suspi- sion to assume the legislative right | to influence parent and guardian to |