§ The Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the number of medical screening units in the Province and future demand for screening.
§ Mr. NeedhamScreening for hearing and visual defects, speech disorders and other developmental problems is an integral part of the child health surveillance programme. The physical and developmental status of children is assessed on an ongoing basis from infancy to age 14. Where abnormalities are detected children are referred to appropriate specialist services. Adults with suspected handicapping conditions are also referred to specialist services by their family doctor. Existing services have the capacity to deal with present and expected future requirements.
§ The Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what post-school provision exists for deaf and multi-handicapped young people in Northern Ireland; and what advice he is giving to area boards on this matter.
§ Mr. NeedhamIn Northern Ireland, the individual needs of hearing-impaired and multi-handicapped clients are met by the general range of statutory and voluntary services including the provision of home helps, aids and adaptations and day centre and workshop activities.
Specialist social workers for the deaf provide advice and guidance to hearing-impaired people and their families and act as interpreters where necessary. Three resource centres for the hearing impaired are provided in the Eastern health and social services board area at Beechbank house, Helen Keller house and the Parkmount rehabilitation unit.
The regional strategy for the period 1987–92 advises boards that the Department of Health and Social Services expects them to effect improvements in services specifically for the deaf and blind, either through the creation of specialist posts, or through in-service training designed to ensure that existing staff, including social workers, are made more aware and capable of meeting the needs of sensorily handicapped people.
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§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision has been made in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys survey of disability in Northern Ireland for the identification of deaf-blind people and deaf people who may suffer from an additional handicap to their deafness.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe study of disability now under way in Northern Ireland is modelled closely on that carried out in Great Britain by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, and the same methods of establishing the nature and extent of disability are being followed. Information is sought on each and every disability that an individual has which interferes with his or her ability to perform daily activities. Thus, people with varying levels of visual loss and/or hearing loss and those who suffer an additional disability to their hearing loss will be included in the survey. Investigations cover those living in private households and also those who live in residential establishments of varying kinds.
The study is being carried out by the policy planning and research unit of the Department of Finance and Personnel.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will meet representatives of organisations representing the deaf to discuss the implications for them of the Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1989.
§ Mr. NeedhamNo request for a meeting to discuss the implications of the Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 has been received from any organisation representing deaf people.