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© I SS EN POSSESSES ¢ L 4 y / - ____. Senior Citizens 'at the. Communit envelopes for the Flowers of Hope Campaign. PORT PERRY TAR ~~ PORT PERRY, ONTARIO -- WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1976 -- PAGE 17 y--Nursing Home help out by stuffing rr SECOND hd SECTION Central Seven campaign Workshop for retarded planned "It's national Week for the Mentally Retarded again, and the drea branch of the Association for the Mentally Retarded is in the midst of a campaign that will hopefully raise enough funds to fin- ance a major expansion of facilities here. . Integration of the mentally handicapped into the com- munity has always been the aim of such organizations as 'Central Seven, and to furth- er that aim, the organization hopes to provide a workshop + facility for adults. "This means a major ex- pansion for us," said Central Seven's Elizabeth Fulford. Mrs. Gill teaches the special class for retarded youngsters at Prince' Albert. The class proves a benefit not only for these handicapped children, but also for the rest of the school's students, who discover 'So far we 've been involved mainly in volunteer work, and we've never-asked for - these kinds of funds. We really need the support now." : The '"'only volunteer work' that the organization has undertaken in the past few years shows impressive » Ar, yu ve Pi tinned isiit bois ado dor aMoniiy The unhesitant smile on Betty's pretty face is just one example of the message organizations such as Central Seven of the national association for the retarded ~----are trying to get across to the public. That there's nothing very different about children like Betty, one of the children in -a.special class for the retarded at Prince Albert school. The eagerness, willingness to share affection and love that -Betty signals with the smile is typical of other youngsters in the class. accomplishments. Initiated by Central Seven and with the full co-operation of the Durham Board of Education a class of retarded young- ISL "3 ha PoE 1 % #aid) 3 there is nothing sinister or mysterious about retard- ation. "They discover these kids laugh, cry, and like all the things that most youngsters do," said a supporter, i ss 3 ks £ ES ART Ko ii sters ages six to twelve was introduced at Prince Albert Public School. They have their own classroom pro- gram, but take part in lunch hour and recess with other publics. Whenever, possible, a child may attend a specific class with children of the same age. The program, according to Central Seven, has work- ed our very well. Not only does it enhance the child's ability to learn by providing a normal educational and social environment, but there's also the fringe bene- fit of acceptance and under- standing of the problems of these handicapped. youngst- ers by the rest of the child- ren. It's all part of the organiz- ation's effort at community integration. "These school kids discover that there is nothing mysterious or terrible about the retarded." In a school situation, child- ren learn that the retarded smile, laugh, cry and do very much what any other youngster does. They are accepted into the commun- ity, and. can take an active partin it. Just that alone is a great Step forward, accord- ing to the organization. Central Seven's workshop will be an extension of that program, and will serve adults living in the areas of Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog. d Because it serves adults, funds from the Durham Board of Education won't be available. The province would pay 80 percent, with the remaining 20 percent to ba raised locally. Although no final approval has been given to the project, Central Seven members are reason- ably sure that approval will be given. "It is quite obvious that the need is there," said Mrs. Fulford. Perhaps one of the major problems to overcome with the workshop concept is transportation. A workshop serving the basically rural communities of Scugog, Ux- bridge and. Brock will de- mand daily transportation. So far, the matter, has not - yet been settled, but organ- izors 'are hopeful that a suitable. transportation set- up can be established within reasonable cost. Without toe heavy a finan- cial commitment to trans- portation, the organization hopes to launch the work- shop with between $3,000 to $5,000. This amount would represent the 20 percent local funds Not only will facilities have to be paid for, but also the salaries of a number of professional people such as a program manager and full time and part time staff to instruct at the centre The workshop program is a proven one, and many other centres have one Basically a work and train- ing facility, many other fringe benefits could develop from a workshop here. For one thing, points out Mrs Fulford, it could become a focal point for Central Seven's activity here--the start of more active and ag- gressive endeavours in the future. She hopes that rec- . reational and social activi- ties could be developed, and that the overall service to the retarded will continue to grow. : The facility should be able to handle the 35 or 40 people in the threé-township area who could benefit from a workshop experience. The organization will begin at a (continued on page 22) fi BR, 2 ESR TD ox a a Rr rls a " <o 2 < 2%, Fs aie ot Ea eh ve _-- . on 38 it