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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1985-06-19, Page 7�� •- it s° . PREVENTING MENTAL HANDICAPS — Dr. Graham Chance was the guest speaker at a seminar for parents of mentally handicapped children and interested community members of ARC Industries on Wednesday. The luncheon meeting was sponsored by the South Huron and District Association for the Mentally Handicapped. Chance specializes in prevention of mental handicaps, where possible, through improved prenatal core. Prevention, early detection highlighted at area seminar Prevention and early detection of ' mental handicaps was the theme of a seminar offered by the South Huron and District Association for the Men- tally Handicapped, held at ARC In- dustries in Dashwood on Wednesday. The keynote speaker was Dr. Graham Chance. a professor on the medical faculty at UWO, and a prac- ticing physician who has specialized in prevention of handicaps through better prenatal care. There was also a panel discussion, featuring area physicians Dr. Debbie Waters, Dr. Bill Steciuk, Dr. Linda Steele. and Jean O'Rourke, a public health nurse. John Gray, the new ex- ecutive director of the association, was also on the panel. About 45 people attended the seminar, mostly -concerned parents with handicapped children. Support to these parents is one of the main pur- poses of the Association, along with public education and fundraising to provide services not funded by governments. of the reasons that early detec- tion is so important is that the quali- ty of care a child is given effects the eventual extent of the handicap. Infant stimulation programs and special nursery classes can help minimize a child's later problems. Dr. Chance spoke of primary,secon- dary and tertiary ways of preventing mental handicaps. Primary ways included rubella im- munization, improved prenatal care, genetic councelling of couples plan- ning to conceive, and reduction of childhood accidents. Secondary means involved concen- trating attention on identified high- risk groups. These groups include very young U teenage ► mothers, and mothers over 35, both groups having a higher percentage of handicapped ha hies. Tertiary prevention involy s sup- port for families with problems to minimize long-term disability and prevent complications. The largest percentage of mental- ly handicapped children are not the result of poor prenatal care (10 per- cent ► or mutant genes (7 percent ► but MR. AND MRS. STEVE SKINNER Audrey Regier and Steve Skinner were united in marriage by Father J. Bensett on May 18 at St. Peter's Church, St. Josephs. The bride is the daughter of Joe and Rose Marie Regier, Zurich and the groom's parents are Bev and Elaine Skinner, Exeter. The matron of honour was Patti Hodgins and the bridesmaids were Michelle Regier, Laurette Regier, Patti Rau, and Mary Jo McCann. Flowergirl was Shawno Rowe. The best man was Allan Regier and ushers were Rick Hodgins, Laurie Skinner, Dave Pearce and Pot Regier. Ringbearer was Daniel Finkbeiner. After a honeymoon in Florida the couple has token up residence in Exeter. Photo by Alderson Photography YARN •. of chromosomal defects (36 percent). About 10 percent of mentally han- dicapped people acquired their pro- blems later in life, and in about 20 per- cent of cases the cause is unknown. However, an important factor in prenatal care that is not paid enough attention, in Chance's view, is the use by the pregnant woman of alcohol. tobacco and other drugs. Retardation of mental functioning can be caused by birth trauma, com- plications of labour that cause a shor- tage of oxygen to the fetus or a traumatic brain injury. There was some discussion with audience members whether this meant that all babies should be born in bigger. specialized hospitals like St. Joseph's in London, or whether facilities like those of South Huron Hospital are Chance feels that for many mothers, especially for healthy mothers not in their teens and under 30, the local facilities are just fine. However high risk mothers might be better off at a larger institution. "If everyone comes to the big centres they're going to turn into factories," he said. Chance approves of the use of am- niocentesis for high risk mothers, but points out that even if it is used wide- ly among mothers 30 and up, there are still far more babies born to the under 30 group, and enough of these have Down's syndrome and other defects detectable by amniocentesis to keep the rate of these births almost as high as it is now. During the panel discussion. a nursery schol teacher from Huron Hope spoke about a child who was placed in her care at age four who couldn't speak. "How was he missed for four years? i can't do much with him in one year -- we should have had him since he was two!" Her frustration was mirrored by that of panel members who said some parents just don't want to believe anything is wrong with their kid. There were also cases brought up by audience members of parents who were told by their family physician that the child was fine, while the child slipped farther and farther behind in normal development. The consensus seemed to he that when in doubt about a child's develop- ment, have it checked out by a physi- cian, and don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion. However. don't lel an early label on your child become a self-fulfilling prophesy. That mistake used to be commonly made with Down's syndrome children, Chance said, who developed very low func- tioning through neglect when more stimulation could have raised their level of functioning. Wed., - Sat. closing or while quantities last °` Patons Cotton Flamme 50 g. boll Sombrero Sirdar Cotton 50 g ball The Terry Look 50 g. ball CENTRE MAIL EXETER 235-0600 Tomarinda 50 g. ball 2.15 GEN'S'`"�EMPOR M INGER .,..a--.. - - WOOL { YARN CENTRE i Ws haws VISA .11s MASTERCARD , It seems to me Continued from page 6 Bunny► and lxissed up the tomatoes. potatoes and squash. This spring when we planted the garden, their beady little eyes bored holes in our backs as they nudged each other and whispered, "Wonder what the folks are planting for us. this year?". Rut I had another plan Everything they found delicious, put behind a four foot mesh fence. Everything they hated. i planted in plain view Each evening. about six or eight of these rascally rabbits are accustom- ed to hound up from the gully and use our lawn as a playground. We've been fascinated by their games, the most popular being a kind of tag where one will make a flying run at another who, in turn. jumps straight up in the air so that the runner passes beneath him. Littlt' did we know for what they were practicing. Not until last night. We happened to look out to see two big, nervy bucks stalking the garden fence. Mobie, sitting on the porch, not a muscle twitching. watched their every move. They saw him, too. and stayed just far enough away to stand on their hind legs, jiggle their ears. and saucily dare him to take up the chase. But he was too smart and too patient ; he hoped they would. even Maly. come within his range. Suddenly, to the surprise of all. one rabbit sailed high in the air, clearing the fence and landing amidst the spinach. The other followed like a flash. For a moment we were all stunned Then. Mohie flung himself off the porch with an enraged howl of 111 dignalion. crashed into the fence. sen ding stakes. wire, vegetables and rah hits in all directions. Well, we've mended and secured the fence, again, and I think I can chalk up that round for us, but 1 know. at This very moment thaw rotten rah hits are down in the gully. rallying their troops. practicing (heir leaps and planning tonight's raid. Seems to me it's going to he a long year Exeter unit meets Times -Advocate, June 19, 1985 Hear about Africa trip A prayer poem and prayer were us- ed by -Jean Murray. Unit leader. to open the June meeting of the Exeter U.C.W. The minutes and treasurer's report were read and approved. During the business session it was decided to not prepare an exhibit at the Exeter Fall Fair on the topic "Welcome to our Youth Party"; visits will be made during the summer to those people who could not attend the Friendship Tea. and the September meeting will begin with a potluck luncheon. Beth Batten stewardship secretary, spoke on our responsibility as stewards in the use of our five senses - hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting. and touching. To open the worship service Velma Huff read a poem entitled "Dreams". Marzetta Earl read the Lord's Prayer and Doris Sillery read quotes concer- ning prayer and understanding God. Mrs. Define favored with a solo "How Great Thou Art": Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Smith told of their impressions of Africa where Mrs. Smith's son, Peter Frayne is in charge of a camp that looks after the well-being and education of the Mis- sionaries' children while the parents are working at mission stations. They told of the dust storms of red ENGAGED — Helen Haley is very pleased to announce the engage- ment of her only daughter Ann Marie to Daniel Joseph, son of Matthew and Martha Ducharme. The wedding will take place June 29, 1985 at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, St. Josephs, On- tario. Open reception to follow. sand, the friendliness of the people, the lack of vandalism and the fact that the mortality rate is forty years. One of the greatest problems of the la Page 7 natives is the size of their families in comparison with the food available. The meeting was closed with a prayer by Jean Pooley. Huron Apothecary Ltd. J T WILSON PHARMACIST PHONE 235-1982 440 MAIN ST.. EXETER. ONT. NOW OPEN To Serve You Super Plenamins 100's $499 Caltrate 600 60's Calcium Supplement $'99 LOWCALORIE SWEETENER WITH ASPARTAME NO SACCHARIN NO CYCLAMATE Equal Low Calorie Sweetner 50 packets or 100 tablets $227 4 Webber Vitamin E 400 I.U. 100% natural source of Vitamin E 100's $8" Hours Mon. Tues., Thurs. 8 Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wed. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. You're Invited to Celebrate dint/ Anniversary This. Week, OnlyAK M4104)6' It's our biggest sale of the season You could win a $100 Gift Certificate (Reg. price merchandise only) Enter at our store. Draw will be made Monday, June 24 MTV r fit MEM "Looking Young and lin Sir/e" was 360 Main St., Exeter 233-0112