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Show Sunday, July 9, 1972 ' THE HERALD, Prove, Utah-Pa- ge 37 Center Proves That Tender Care Works for Severely Retarded Child Bv D.UID HEXDIX 12. ST. LOl'IS, Mo.-J- ohn, is a hydrocephalic. His her 2 is more than twice as large normal as because fluids Ijave accumulated to an ex- cess and have, in effect, destroyed mucn, if not most, of his brain. Because of this severe damage to his nervous system John is litt'.e more than a "hui..an vegetable," distasteful though the term may be. His IQ is essentialally 0 no intelligence though it is difficult to measure accurately in this ultra-lorange. Jonn is one of about 3 to 5 per cent of the nation's jy ' " x . mentally retarded who are classified a s severely, or profoundly ' v i VJ " million six A - ( lit 2k f vJ wr-.oc- r '.j retarded. Most of them HEXDIX buJ are not story and ing but lie in bed and make grotesque noises. They are "crib cases" who have been found drugged into a stupor and closeted in the back rooms of newly infamous institutions such as New York's Willowbrook State School. In understaffed, underfunded institutions like Willowbrook or Letchworth Village in upstate New York, huge rooms hold wall-to-wa- ll steel-side- d "cribs" which are more like cages with Iranquiliml children as their prisoners. In such state institutions the ratio is often so miniscule that it allows only one or two minutes for an aide to feed a child each meal. Every week youngsters die of food aspiration and subsequent suffocation or infection. Apologists have argued that the profoundly retarded youngsters wouldn't know the difference whether they existed in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel or Willowbrook. Others, however, believe that subjectively at least the environment in which such children live makes all the difference in the world. I recently visited John, the boy with the oversized head, at the St. Louis Center for Exceptional Children, a privately owned and operated but state approved facility that cares for profoundly retarded children. John smiled at me, or at least something in his eyes, his face or his surroundings made me think he smiled at me. He was lying in a new, mesh-side- d playpen, the type you may have for your own child at home. John was surrounded by simple toys in a brightly lighted room in which colorful mobiles and staff-to-patie- Wrong File man Thursday walked into the offices of Dateline, a firm which matches possible social partners by computer, and snatched a file containing the records of 1,000 former clients. Dateline officials said the LONDON (UPI)- -A thief would reading. THE LOXG GRAY LIXE of criblike beds is a familiar sight to those with courage to visit institutions for the severely retarded child. These hold mentally retarded youngsters, many drugged into complacency, in New York's Letchworth Village institution for mentally retarded. am-ca- n do noth- - find no juicy "These are former clients, and we destroy more personal details from the records as soon as a client comes off the books. Besides, many have since rrcrried," the company said. 'Way ahead of lib MACON, Ga. (UPI)-Wesle- cartoon cutouts adorned the walls. Thousands of John's counterparts in some of the large state institutions are drugged, asleep and alone except for the dozens of children packed in the room around them. They exist day and night in the same condition. For some their beds arc moved only when a nurse or staff member has to get to a child in another bed and for feeding. capacity of about John's home, the St. Louis Center for Exceptional Children refurbished from With a 300, State Fund In Idaho a gutted, eight-storwarehouse in downtown St. Louis is only about half full, partially due to lack of funds. Children are placed in the center, explains Dr. Harold Robb, acting director of Missouri's division of mental health, because they ere profoundly retarded. "Basically they need much more loving care and attention than it is possible to give in a state institution, even in the best circumy stances." In fact, at the St. Louis State School and Hospital it College was the nation's first college chartered to issue degrees to women. It was founded in 1836 and awarded its first degree four years later to Catherine Brewer. The State of Missouri recognizes the economic as well as the clinical usefulness of private facilities. But Dr. Bryan McCann of the National Association of Retarded Children (NARC) in Arlington, Tex., says that he finds it hard to accept the notion of good custodial care because "I've seen too many Center is care" facility and state officials believe it is "one of the best." But the reason it is good is not necessarily the owner's love for retared children. It is, at least partially, because there is a lot of money to be made "not wasted by the W. Virginia Uses Unique School Funding Approach NEW YORK (UPI)-T- he Counties retain a set of state of West Virginia has put records the same as those the computer to work in a stored in the state computer for Gov. Cecil unique approach to the problem clerical but not analytical work. BOISE (UPI) D. Andrus said that preliminary of financing public schools In aodition, counties make all assessments following state figures show that the state through property taxes. With the financial assistance guidelines and counties continue in the fund was actually general red $2.4 million at the close of of the Appalachian Regional to collect all local taxes. Commission in Washington, and Therefore, the county system is this fiscal year June 30. consulting help from CBM, Inc. retained but subject to state The governor's figures showof Beachwood, Ohio, West guidelines and monitoring. ed that there was a cash bal- Virginia officials have set up a Believed Unique ance of $1.8 million at the close program of raising taxes where Gov. Arch Moore believes of the year, but added that the money is and placing it West Virginia is the only state outstanding pur- where the school children are. which has worked out a method chase orders and bills totaled in New of state controls and county Court decisions $4.2 million June 30. Jersey, California, Texas and administrative autonomy. To Minnesota have held that the date about 25 per cent of all During a news conference, the system of financing counties in West Virginia are existing meet governor said he would the on the system and it is through with legislative leaders in early public schools unconstitutional. tax is expected to be completed by property August to gather "their input" after revenues in July were Similar cases are under way in 1973. 30 other states and President y available. is cooperation Nixon has stated he is seriously essential if the property tax is The governor said he would bur-dconsidering "relieving the to remain viable, officials say. make a decision on the posof property tax." In the West Virginia experof lega special calling sibility Plan Explained to CBM ience, islative session after the revHere's how the West Virginia Presidentaccording Henry Hillenmeyer, enue figures were in and he system works: cooperation has led to streammet with the lawmakers. A computer stores all inforlining an existing system, "I'm not in favor of a tax mation concerning property resulting in lower costs, better This increase," Andrus said. He said evaluation and taxation. service, and accuracy; this he didn't think the people in data is supplied and updated approach was used rather than the state were in favor of the regularly by the counties. The attempting to build a whole state can therefore easily new method of increase. taxation, monitor how well counties are collection and distribution. State law requires the books complying with state-establishe- d must be in the black at the In another pilot project, CBM regulations to see that close of each fiscal year. are evaluated and is assisting the state of Virginia properties Andrus said his figures showin establishing a process appraised properly. ed that revenues in the state a computer can Meanwhile, the counties use whereby amounted to $123.3 million dur- the state computerized informa- perform the job of appraising ing the last fiscal year and the tion to prepare local tax rolls all property taxes in the state. legislature had authorized $126.7 and bills, and reports needed to This program will be operative million in expenditures. later this year. run county government. "There is a gap of $3.4 milKEN SCHMIDT OF NORFORK, NEB., SAYS: lion," Andrus said. He said without the revenue figures for " the present month he could not project what deficit the state would be faced with this year. But he said he thought the same "problems" existed this year as did last year. "If we don't have the money we can't spend it," Andrus Runs in Red - programs custodial-typ- e which either prevent a person from developing or which, in fact, cause him to regress." It is difficult to elicit an admission from NARC officials that there is such a thing as a retarded child who could benefit from good, totally custodial care. When officials are willing to conditionally accept this idea they argue about how one is to assign a label such as "not able to improve" to any child. Missouri's Now, however, he has a pinch, poke, a tickle or a grin for each of the children in the home even the ones who wouldn't supposedly miss the attention if thev never got it. "Now I'm smiling and laughing and the kids who can respond in any way do," he says. Indeed, Dr. Korn says he prefers the center concept even to foster homes. "I'd rather have a place where parents can come. People who want to have foster homes should come to work at places like this and give their love that way." Overcrowding is being eased by taking the children who need custodial care out of state institutions. Missouri state officials say that Dr. Robb says should be helped and is potentially educable is a good one. On the other hand, within budgetary limitations as a practical point I think there are some for whom all one can offer is the best possible medical care. This is the type of child we are putting in the St. Louis Center." Medical director of the center is Dr. Robert L. Korn, an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at St. Pn n Humidifiers INSTALL NOW CALL THE EXPERTS Terms Up to 36 months -- Low down n Stole - Orem 225-144- .ii. n!l 489-746- OPEN 9 MON-WED.-F- 'TIL 9 P.M. TUES. - THURS. - SAT. 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Closed Sunday V X' Jn VS Come out to Brown Bros. J ? 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Dosages of medicadevote more time to the re- tion are reduced and standtarded youngsters who can ardized in the case where a show substantial growth to- child has been receiving sevward an ability to moving eral overlapping drugs. into society as productive "Good medical managemembers. ment will ameliorate many Many individuals, called of the parental guilt probheartless or Hitleresque by lems," Dr. Korn says. "If some, wonder why the pro- we upgrade management of c retarded children the kids and the foundly should not simply be cared management of for "just enough," and al- the families we could uplowed to die. More radical grade the situation so the individuals say, "kill them." kids could be in a home with"You are talking to a man out the stigmata of having a who favors abortions," Dr. retarded child." Korn says, "but once a child has achieved life on this planet he deserves to live' the best life that can be attained." Accordingly, Dr. Korn has upgraded the medical care of the retarded youngsters in his charge. No longer do d they lie in a State-count- v7 y-an it. structure. The St. Louis Louis University School of Medicine. "The ideal place for the severely retarded child is in the home. When the parents face guilt, frustration and inability to handle the situation the next best thing is a small, centered operation," Dr. Korn says. "What I'm talking about,", he adds, "is a factory for retarded kids a factory for the best and most humane care. This is the St. Louis Center," The pediatrician explains that his earliest experiences with institutionalized profoundly retarded children was "terribly, terribly de- state," as one observer put costs the state about $480 per month per child. At the privately owned St. Louis Center, however, the cost is reduced to $425. As a further economic advantage patients often become eligible for government assistance outside of the state institutional clearly a "custodial AT ST. LOUIS CENTER for Exceptional Children the profoundly retarded receive "environmental" care. and the prices are wee !' fe&BwJk Just over the So. Univ. Ave., Overpass Six OWU DROTdi J3-Z- if L-' Cwds Honored Terms Op To A 1 ;t im Vis? M hftTiiiJ .mfinm0' .1, FURNITURE WAREHOUSE 167 L 900 So. Provo - Ph. 375-720- 3 |