Evening star., 1938-10-10
PROGRAM TO AID
HAND|CAPPEDD.C,
CHILDREN SOUGHT
W. P. A. Moves to Assist in
Problems of Education
and Treatment.
CONFERENCE is CALLED
FOR DISCUSSION TODAY
Mrs. Doyle Is Planning Early
Meeting Of Experts to Map
Long-Range Proposals.

The Works Progress Administration
today moved to help meet emergency
problems of educating and treating
hundreds of crippled children here,
while District officials sought expert
advice in working out a permanent
school-health program to benefit all
types Of handicapped children.
Ross HaWorth, deputy administrator
OF the District w. P. A., planned to
confer this afternoon with Health De-
partment and school officials to dis
cuss the immediate problems and de-
termine exactly what aid the w. P. A,
might offer.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Henry Grattan
Doyle, president of the District Board
of Education, said she planned an
early meeting of committee of ex.
perts being organized to make recon-
mendatlons for long-range program
Tor the best possible care and instruc.
ton Of crippled children and those
suffering from poor sight, defective
hearing and tuberculosis.
Two Possibilities.
I'VE are delighted to have the on
portunity TO help in the care of Grip
Piled children through expansion of
our education program" Mr.. Haworth
said. Il won't know just what we can
40, or whether workable plan can be
developed, until I learn the details of
the problem in comforting with officials
concerned"
Two possibilities for w. P. A. aid
are in providing visiting teachers to
instruct in their homes crippled chill
dren who are physically unable to 90
to school and in supplying transporta-
ton to special school classes for those
left off the regular school bus route
this year because of insufficient funds.
Mr.. Haworth planned to discuss the
problems with Mrs Doyle, Health Of
ficer George C. Rutland, Assistant
Health Officer Daniel L. Seckinger and
DR. Ella Oppenheimer, in charge Of
children's work in the Health Depart.
ment.
Mrs. Doyle emphasized that the
problems of educating and providing
adequate medical treatment for Grip
pied children are inseparable neces-
stating the closest cooperation be-
tween the Health Department and
School Board.
Clinic at Gallinger.
Under the present limited program,
less than 100 are attending special
classes for crippled children at Lang
don School (white) and Anthony
Bowen School (colored), where spe-
cial treatments under supervision of
the Health Department are provided
to improve their physical condition,
along with their school work.
In addition, the Health Department
operates a clinic at Gallinger Hospital
and provides some home treatment
and other services to help rehabilitate
the cripples with the aid of social Sc
curity funds. The Gallinger clinic
augments services provided at Chill
dren's and other hospitals.
Health Department records show
there are more than 900 crippled
children in the District listed as
active" cases and only BIT of these
are receiving active care at hospital
clinics. Some of the cases have been
hospitalized at Gallinger.
Funds Sought for Years.
For several years the School Board
unsuccessfully has sought funds for
modern buildings designed especially
to care for physically handicapped
pupils. The buildings would be
erected near Childrens and Freed
mems Hospitals to provide a close
tie-up between education and treat
ment of the afflicted pupils. A budget
request for s105,O00 to purchase a site
for the school near Children's Hospital
was denied.
The combined education treatment
plan envisaged in this building pro-
gram will be one of the primary con-
siderations of the Advisory Committee
now being organized, Mrs. Doyle said.
We hape to work out a sound plan
for expanding in the wisest way posi-
BILE the public services for the physi-
cally handicapped children" she said.
Mrs. Doyle expressed pleasure at
Willingness Of the w. P. A. to CO.
operate in helping to meet the prob
lens temporarily, but emphasized that
to build a program to last through
the years it would be necessary to
provide for it in the regular budget.
Mrs. Doyle was appointed chairman
OF the Advisory Committee at the Sep
tember II meeting of the Board of
Education on recommendation of
School Supt. Frank w. Ballou. The
committee includes Dr. Joseph A,
Murphy, chief medical inspector of
the public schools, representing the
Health Department; four specialists,
to be selected by the Health Depart
ment, for crippled. blind, hard-of-
hearing and tuberculosis children;
representatives of the Washington
League for the Hard of Hearing. the
District Crippled Children's Society,
Society for the Prevention of Blind
ness, District tuberculosis Association,
Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, parent
teacher associations and other organ
izations.
DR.. Ballou said problems of unusual
Importance are arising in connection
with the organization Of work for the
care and instruction of physically
handicapped children and services Of
such a committee were needed in
working out an adequate program.