BACK COVER

This book is divided into 3 parts.

PART 1: WORKING WITH THE CHILD AND FAMILY (Chapters 1 to 42)

This is the longest part of the book; divided into 5 sections:

Section A (Chapters 2 to 5): ideas for sharing information from the book; and background information on working with disabled children

Section B (Chapters 6 to 33): detailed information on specific disabilities Section C (Chapters 34 and 35): on the child who is slow to learn and to develop

Section D (Chapters 36 to 41): on helping disabled children become more self-reliant

Section E (Chapters 42 and 43): on learning specific exercises; includes techniques for using crutches, canes, and wheelchairs

PART 2: WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY (Chapters 44 to 55)

· ideas for starting a community program, and for helping the community respond to the needs of disabled children

PART 3: WORKING IN THE SHOP (Chapters 56 to 67)

· suggestions for setting up a workshop and for making aids, wheelchairs, braces, and rehabilitation equipment

LOOKING UP PAGE REFERENCES

Usually the chapter that discusses a specific disability will not include all the information necessary to meet a child’s needs. You will also have to look in other chapters. There are several ways to find out where to look.

· As you read a chapter, often you will come to page references. This means that you can turn to that page for more information on the topic being discussed.

· To find all the different places in the book that give important information about a specific disability or topic, use the INDEX.

· In some chapters, where further reading is essential, there is a list of references to other parts of the book at the end of the chapter.

It is very important that you learn how to look up these references, and do so. If you do not, the information to meet a child’s needs will not be complete.

REMEMBER: The best way to learn how to use this book is to work for a while with the guidance of experienced rehabilitation workers.

Disabled Village Children is a book of information and ideas for all who are concerned about the well-- being of disabled children. It is especially for those who live in rural areas where resources are limited. But it is also for therapists and professionals who assist community-based programs or who want to share knowledge and skills with families and concerned members of the community.

Written by David Werner with the help of disabled persons and pioneers in rehabilitation in many countries, this book has been prepared in a style and spirit similar to the author’s earlier works, Where There Is No Doctor and Helping Health Workers Learn. It gives a wealth of clear, simple, but detailed information concerning most common disabilities of children: many different physical disabilities, blindness, deafness, fits, behavior problems, and developmental delay. It gives suggestions for simplified rehabilitation, low-cost aids, and ways to help disabled children find a role and be accepted in the community.

Above all, the book helps us to realize that most of the answers for meeting these children’s needs can be found within the community, the family, and in the children themselves. It discusses ways of starting small community rehabilitation centers and workshops run by disabled persons or the families of disabled children.

Over 4,000 line drawings and 200 photos help make the information clear even to those with little formal education.

Ways to make therapy fun and useful. Figure Brace and limb making in the village Toy making Possibilities and adaptations for work Simple ways to meet basic needs Adaptations of home and community Low-cost aids Children helping children (CHILD-to-child) Respect for the abilities of the disabled Prevention of disability Stimulation for early development Skills for blind and deaf children Behavior problems and improvement Playgrounds for all children Development of skills for daily living Identification and management of common disabilities