Milford chronicle., 1947-01-31
COMMISSION
FOR THE FEEBLEMINDED

The custody and limited training
possible for the feebleminded pre-
sents number of problems to the
Delaware Commission for the Fee
bleminded with which the people
of the State of Delaware should be
fully acquainted. Delaware Colo
ny. the state institution located five
miles south of Georgetown in Sus-
sex County, now cares for 519 fee
bleminded persons and approx
mately 120 cases are on a waiting
list because their admission awaits
either the discharge of existing
or enlarged facilities. At the Col
Ony the inmates are segregated as
to sex and degrees of feeblemind-
edness in a number of cottages un-
der the supervision of attendants.
Admissions to the Colony are pro-
vided either by Court order or by
application on the part of parents,
guardians or others. after eXami-
nation. usually at the Mental Hy-
giene Clinic of the Delaware State
Hospital
The minimum additional facili-
ties which are urgently needed are
as indicated below.
l. A building to care for dcfcc-
tive delinquents with criminal in
clinatiOnS, most of whom are ad-
mitted to the Colony upon Court
order. There are at present no
facilities whereby the Commission
can segregate these cases from
other detectives upon whom they
have improper influence or among
whom they cause considerable
feeling of unrest. To correct this
situation would require special ia
cilities for about 40 persons at
the present time but it would be
we'll to look a little to the future
and make provision for GO to q
such cases.
2. AS the Colony is located at q
distance from centers of pOpula
ton, there are no possible nearby
housing facilities for office help
clinical and nursing help. sOcia
workers, dietitian. etc. Facilitie:
for other employees are limited t.
a portion of the space in each cot
tage and afford only cramped con
ditions which cannot take care o
the employees with families. FO
that reason it is impossible TO
the commission to secure the ser
vices of sufficient trained person
mel or to hold personnel trained a
. the Colony for any reaSOnabl
: length of time. The Commission
y therefore. considers it urgent tha
dormitory be provided for tn
: purpose.
>. The home of the superinten
dent is located near the infirmar
> and it is the opinion of the Com
mission that new home should b
IF provided for the superintendent us
}, ing his present home for res
n dent full time physician. The Con
a mission has made efforts cOntinl
$, Ously to obtain the services of
: full ltime physician but lack {
l. housing facilities has thus fl
# proved an insurmOuntable Obstacl
n A. The Commission has no bull,
j. ing which can be used as a gener;
D. store room and warehouse al
j, lacks refrigerator equipment ad
quate to meet the needs of Il
Cf Colony. A building with adequa
n facilities would not only fulfill /
. urgent need from the standpoint
{ space but would also make it pO
IL sible to maintain more effectu
at central control over the issuan
of clothing. shoes. blankets, liner
l. groceries and household suppl
IL on the basis of daily inventO
IS. against approved acquisitions ON
at Meats. dairy products. vegetabl
" and other food products of the C
ne ony's farm require enlarged al
e. improved refrigeration equipmel
IL To meet these urgent needs t
X Commission proposes to present
the State Legislature bill reque'
III ing appropriation for capital {
% penditures which it is hoped W
III he adequate to provide the mu