Sanitary aspects of the thermal muds in Aquitaine

In Aquitaine, thermal muds are prepared by contact of alluvial or forestry substratum with thermal waters, during variable periods. Microorganisms of sanitary interest (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans thermotolerant coliforms and Clostridium sp.) have been enumerated in ready‐to‐use muds. S. aureus and C. albicans were absent from all samples. Coliforms were found in 22% of the samples, at low levels (less than 100 cfu g^‐1). P. aeruginosa was found in 28% of the samples. Clostridium were found in all the samples at levels varying from 10¹ to 10⁵ cfu g^‐1. Clostridium bifermentans and C. sporogenes which are considered to be devoid of pathogenicity for skin, accounted for 72% of the isolates.     

Sexuality and Disabled Parents with Disabled Children

This is not your typical academic article. Although it provides references and research information, the perspective is a little different. We intend to share stories from a lifetime of participant observation on disabled adoptive parents. The stories are part of the empirical evidence that makes up our collective lives. But they are not stories well represented in the literature—either qualitative or quantitative. We know we are not average. We are more than one standard deviation from the norm and we celebrate this. This article provides a radical reconceptualization of the sexuality experiences of disabled parents. Think of it as a participatory ethnography. Placed in the context of the growing literature base around families, adoption, and sexuality, our stories reflect the lived experience of the parents who have shared their lives with us.     

Air Transporation and the Disabled

Air transportation is becoming increasingly more accessible to the disabled traveller. This is due to many reasons. The disabled themselves are now very much a part of twentieth century society in which air travel plays a large role. To this end, several international organizations representing the disabled have been pressuring for increased accessibility. As well, the airlines have realized that the disabled represent a sizable market potential and thus they have begun accessibility and staff sensitization programs. This article will first provide a summary of the current situation for disabled travellers and will discuss such things as architectural barriers and other limitations both in the airport and on-board the aircraft. The second section will discuss the current research into improving the comsort of the disabled passenger. Topics such as modification of on-board washroom facilities, adapted aids kits and on-board wheelchairs will be presented. Part three will be a short discussion of resources and organizations available to the disabled traveller. It is hoped that occupational therapists will gain a better understanding of the resources and developments in this area.     

Disabled persons in Poland

It is generally considered that disability is an important social problem. This was expressed for example by the decision of the United Nations Organisation to nominate 1981 as the International Year of the Disabled. The number of disabled is one of the main problems. For social planning, the proper allocation of goods and resources for changes in the attitudes of society towards disability it is necessary to identify the prevalence, distribution and composition of the disabled. Prior to the 1978 Census, in Poland there was no information available on disability except the number of disabled persons legally classified by the Medical Board for Disability and Employment receiving disability pension, as well as the average amount of such pension, the number of disability certificates issued annually, the number of employed and the number employed in co-operatives for the disabled. The social criterion--major social role associated with psycho-physical state--was the main concept of the investigation on the frequency of disability in 1978 Census. Methodology used in this study of disability was based on the U.S. experience gained from the 1970 NC, as well as on the NCHS Survey of psychophysical causes of permanent limitation of social role performance and locomotion, performed since 1957. It should be explained, however, that the scope of disability investigated in NCHS Survey and in Polish Census is exactly the same and much wider than in U.S. Censuses. The Polish National Census revealed that there are 2,485,001 disabled persons in Poland, i.e. 7.1% of the total population. The urban population constituted 57.7% and the inhabitants of rural areas 42.5% of the total population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Services for the mentally handicapped in Denmark

Summary This paper, based on a recent visit to Denmark, outlines some aspects of the Danish system of delivering services to the mentally handicapped that contrast sharply with the United Kingdom system. It attempts to review some of the implications of putting into practice a philosophy of normalization, viewed from both the administrative and client standpoints.     

The young handicapped child in the community

Despite recent improvements in services for young handicapped children, families still find themselves without adequate information and support. Fundamental to family support is the planning of joint services and the development of the concept of family support. Assessment must be linked to ongoing programmes of management and the setting of long‐term goals. Parent/professional collaboration should ensure the more effective use of resources. Parents need encouragement and detailed support and guidance if they are to play a therapeutic role in caring for their child. They also need practical help, both financial and in the form of respite care. Since the family is the major caring agency for a handicapped child, it is essential that expertise and services are pooled in a more flexible and imaginative way. It is therefore essential that children who have a disability should enjoy positive discrimination from health, education and social services to maximise ability and to ensure that they can enjoy a meaningful life within the home and the community.     

The young handicapped child in the community

Despite recent improvements in services for young handicapped children, families still find themselves without adequate information and support. Fundamental to family support is the planning of joint services and the development of the concept of family support. Assessment must be linked to ongoing programmes of management and the setting of long-term goals. Parent/professional collaboration should ensure the more effective use of resources. Parents need encouragement and detailed support and guidance if they are to play a therapeutic role in caring for their child. They also need practical help, both financial and in the form of respite care. Since the family is the major caring agency for a handicapped child, it is essential that expertise and services are pooled in a more flexible and imaginative way. It is therefore essential that children who have a disability should enjoy positive discrimination from health, education and social services to maximise ability and to ensure that they can enjoy a meaningful life within the home and the community.