The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-01-13

a former inmate of Brooksid
automobile accident; and a
of the United States Coast @
recovery through the efforts
program recently established
AS reported here the local bureau
of rehabilitation which set up off
ces in Waterbury January 10, in the
odd Fellows building has been
established as q medium Of assisting
all local civilians and war veterans
possessing correctable physical, mem
tai and social handicaps in attain
ing either full Or partial measures OF
social and employment rehabilita-
ton.
Joseph Paternoster once pron1i-
nent local bowling enthusiast whose
accident, wherein he lost both hands
in the operation Of heavy press
machine at the Plume and Atwood
Company, received nationwide at
tention Is now in training" at the
Post Business College where
through his perseverance and cour-
age he has succeeded in again at
tanning the ability to write legibly.
Possessing special hook like instru-
ments in place Of hands, Mr.. Pater-
noster Is taking course In puSi-
ness arithmetic at the local school
and Is hopeful of entering business
within short time.
Another local man who was re-
jected by a local Selective Service
Board because of a specific handi-
can and who showed exceptional in
telligence in various written and
mental examinations Is now having
hi stuition paid at Connecticut State
College while he strives toward a
degree as a teacher.
A Waterbury man who was sew
erely injured in an automobile ac-
cident In Texas resulting in the loss
OF a leg and other severe injuries
has been assisted by the local re-
Mobilization bureau to the extent
that he is now employed by the
Waterbury Tool Company and is
earning SIS to $50 per week.
This latter individual was fitted
with an artificial leg and sent to
the local War Production Training
Center on South Main street where
he received weeks of training re-
slllting In his being certified as an
APPRENTICE industrial grinder.
An addition will be given tomor-
Awy A1t II InEnY1
to a local youth now medically
discharged U. s. Coast Guard vet
eran whose capabilities are being
directed by the local bureau, along
lines which may establish him as a
radio announcer and singer.
Knowlton w. Oberiander. super
visor Of the local rehabilitation
bureau today stated that there are
between 80 and 100 similar cases in
the Waterbury area now being
handed. Mr.. Oberlander, who works
out Of the New Haven ONCE Of the
state bureau and Is temporary
supervisor in Waterbury prepare
tory to the subsequent establish
ment of local man as supervisor.
stated today that at least a dozen
specific cases have been referred
since the local ONCE opened four
days ago.
A clinic will be established In
the local bureaus headquarters in
the Odd Fellows building once the
Waterbury program becomes fully
established. The personnel OF the
clinic viii consist of a psychologist,
a social worker and medical men all
of whom will work directly from the
local once and a psychiatrist and
medical man from the state bureau
OF rehabilitation who will serve in
an advisory capacity.
Sources for referral of these type
cases to the local rehabilitation
bureau come from such agencies as
the q. s. Employment Bureau,
Compensation Commission Once,
probation authorities. veterans bur-
eau. Red Cross. industry and in
terested individuals.
Cases are restricted only where
the individuals handicap Is not
deemed correctable by the local
bureau sufiicient to permit his be-
ing gainfully employed.
The local ONCE will serve all
Iitchfield County and parts Of New
Haven County in addition to Wa
terbury proper. The state program
is under the direction of Edward
p. Chester who originally organ
lied the Connecticut effort along
these lines and who for many years
conducted the program entirely
alone.
Due TO the general interest and
need that developed for this type
of social aid the state bureau was
expanded until at present ofiices are
wtablished in all Connecticut con-
occasional districts. In addition to
-s~e local ONCE other similar ones
&c IN New Haven. Bridgeport, Nor
wich and the central ONCE In Hart
ford.