Library Collections: Document: Full Text

The Central States of the South

This entire region is served by one center, namely, the Shriners' Hospital at Shreveport, Louisiana. While the latter institution is rendering a great service, it should not be made to bear the responsibility for a territory of this size. Aside from the fact that a few patients from northern Mississippi and western Arkansas are sent to the Children's Hospital School at Memphis, Tennessee, no other special facilities are in existence in any of the central southern states. There are no special classes and no active social organizations attempting to solve the problem.

The Southeastern Coast States

Two centers, Atlanta, Georgia, and Gastonia, North Carolina, serve this group of states. In Atlanta and surrounding counties, The Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children and the National Surgical Institute (Decatur) serve the community in a satisfactory manner. In North Carolina, the State Orthopedic Hospital, at Gastonia, is adequate to local needs. In southern North Carolina, the Greensboro Crippled Children's Commission is active in providing care for crippled children of the immediate locality. In South Carolina, a small state appropriation provides for the care of crippled children in several general hospitals. Absolutely no special educational faci1ities are available in this region. As in other parts of the South, distances between centers must be reduced if the problem of the crippled child is to be solved.

The South Central Eastern Coast States

Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, D. C., and Richmond and University (Charlottesville), Virginia, serve as orthopedic centers for the south central eastern coast states. Baltimore is well equipped to provide for the treatment of Maryland crippled children, but one or two special scholastic classes might well be established at several other local centers. In Virginia, the Crippled Children's Hospital, at Richmond, and the University Medical College, at Charlottesville, provide for treatment of patients in the eastern counties. The recently organized Virginia Society for Crippled Children is faced with the problem of stimulating interest in the provision of special education throughout the state, and additional orthopedic services in western cities. Both Delaware and Washington, D. C., are in need of educational facilities for crippled children.

The North Central Eastern Coast States

This densely populated area is by far the most active region of the country in efforts to aid crippled children. In New Jersey, fifty Elks' Lodges, and numerous Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs are devoting their attention to solving the problem of the crippled child. Legislation has provided for local classes for crippled children and orthopedic hospitals are located at Newark, Orange, and Trenton. A number of New York City and Philadelphia institutions have located summer homes at Atlantic City, Bradley Beach, Oakhurst, and elsewhere along the Atlantic Coast. Special convalescent homes are located at Atlantic City and Englewood. A state organization of all facilities may be expected to aid in the co-ordination of all these activities in the near future.

The State of New York must be divided into two sections, Greater New York City and vicinity, which presents a distinct and individual problem, and the remainder of the state. In New York City, every possible facility is available. Three special orthopedic hospitals, orthopedic wards in a large number of general hospitals, 101 special hospital and public school classes for crippled children, an active and efficient local Association for the Aid of Crippled Children, an interested and active Rotary Club and affiliated convalescent homes and hospitals distributed throughout Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut,-all combine to render aid to the juvenile handicapped of the great metropolis. New York State also is well equipped to care for its crippled children. A State Hospital at West Haverstraw cares for indigent patients. Elmira Ithaca, Utica, Buffalo, and Syracuse, all act as orthopedic centers. The legislature has provided for local special education, and has recently appointed a special committee to investigate and report on further necessary facilities. Co-ordination between active agencies is developing in a thoroughly satisfactory manner. The New York State Society for Crippled Children is an active organization which co-operates with other existing agencies everywhere and the New York State Elks' Association is endeavoring to lend assistance. At the present time, the Elks are conducting a survey with a view toward revealing opportunities for further service. No more satisfactory co-ordinated efforts to aid crippled children can be found any where in the world.