Evening star., 1948-05-10
Letters to The Star
Crippled Children Not Neglected

Crippled Children Not Neglected
To the Editor Of The Star:
have been noting with no little dismay
some of the letters and editorials appearing
in The Star with regard to the District of
I, as well as other mothers of cerebral palsied
children, always have felt that our main in
terest lies in aiding not only our own children
but also those similarly affected and that
therefore, we could not and should not devote
any of our time or effort to petty politics or
jealousies take this opportunity to inform
you and your readers that it Is untrue that the
children are the sufferers from the conditions
now prevalent in the society. No child handi-
capped by cerebral palsy has been neglected
by the D. G. Society for Crippled Children
Most of the children now receive and always
have received their physical and occupatonal
therapy at either Children's Hospital or the
Crippled Childrens Unit of the Bureau of
Maternal Child Welfare of the District Health
Department located on the grounds Of Gal
linger Hospital. The society did magnificent
work in endeavoring to establish physical
therapy workshop, and few private patients
were being given therapy there. However
with the resignation Of the physical therapist
there necessarily was temporary halt to the
therapy for these few. Still, If these mothers
had the interest of their children at heart
they could have taken their children to either
Children's Hospital or to the unit at Gallinger
for treatment and the children would not be
the losers I blame the mothers of these
children for their meddling. No child, afflicted
with cerebral palsy, need be denied the treat
ment that is due him. The therapists and
workers at both of the hospitals mentioned
are very capable and always willing to aid in
this very complex problem.
My child has been receiving therapy at
the Gallinger unit for more than q year and
the progress made is remarkable. If those
few parents who were receiving therapy for
their children at the society headquarters
as private patients were not so lazy, and
would consider the welfare of their children
as their only interest, feel certain that
arrangements could be made with very little
effort for the continuance of this much needed
therapy.
cannot understand why you have under
taken campaign against the person who
has done so much to aid the victims Of
cerebral palsy. The executive secretary Of
the D. c. Society for Crippled Children for
seven years has shaved single-handed to ac-
complish the miracle that is the society today.
be informed Of the services that the society
does supply, namely: The consultation clinic,
the orthopedic nursing course, the nursery
school, the physiological service and the ad-
vsory service. The nursery school conducted
by the society is the foremost of this type
in the country. The kindergarten still is being
conducted in spite Of the fact that 1t should
be an obligation Of the city.
We, who are interested in this problem
know that the executive secretary is one OF
the lowest paid workers in her field. Her
only interest was, is, and always will be that
Of the cerebral palsied child.
Most Of the children who have visited the
society either for consultation or for school,
ing have shown remarkable progress.
think it would be fitting If series OF
articles appeared enlightening the public as
to the seriousness of the problem Of the
cerebral palsied children and the fact that
these handicapped children can and will be-
come self supporting and self suf1cient with
very little aid.
want to state that we parents should not
engage in personal differences with regard to
the designations of any members of any stan
anywhere.
know that the society's problems will be
solved The members of the board Of direc-
tors are outstanding, intelligent representatives
of this community We should be grateful
that the services to the children have not been
neglected and we should CO operate and
endeavor to consolidate all our efforts towards
obtaining better and more adequate services,
not only for the few children who are now
receiving these but for every cerebral palsied
child in the Nation MRS MARY PTVER.
Arlington School Problem
To the Editor of The Star:
At time when every magazine and news
paper in the country Is carrying articles on tn
need for better education, the majority Of ou
county board (Mr. De Lashmutt Mr.. Chew ana
Mr.. Frisbie) has seen fit to cut the requested
amount for Arlington schools. Because our
schools have never had sufncient money spent
on them to provide the services normally avail
able in uptodate communities. even the In
adequate program heretofore available will
suffer; with continued imitation. there Is no
alternative Also the surplus built up during
the war years has now been used up.
This cut is even larger than 1t appears on the
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