(2) A variety of practical experiences designed to
Institute News
Details of our proposed programme for 1974/75
are given below. Fuller information about events
scheduled for the later part of the year will be
published in the March issue of Apex.
Further details can be obtained from the Secretary,
Institute of Mental Subnormality, Wolverhampton
Road, Kidderminster, Worcs. DYlO 3PP, to whom all
applications should be sent.
Travelling Workshop
A team of three or four staff from the Institute is
prepared to visit other hospitals to conduct two-day
workshops in behaviour modification. Each workshop
will include selected lectures, films and demonstrations
from the three-day training workshops being held at
Lea Hospital in January (details are given in the
Programme for 1974 below). The emphasis will be
on self-help, communication and play skills at a
practical level.
Charges: The charge for two days of instruction by
a team of three or four people is E30.00. The host
establishment will, in addition, be expected to meet
travelling expenses and to provide board and lodging
for the lecturers. Early application is advised as the
team is already heavily booked until June, 1974.
Outline
Programme 1974-75
JANUARY
Workshop in behaviour modification
Lea Hospital, Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove,
Worcs.
Three separate courses as follows:
Medical Practitioners/Psychologists
10th-12th January, 1974
Teachers 15th-17th January, 1974
Nurses 22nd-24th January, 1974
Eight participants can be accepted in each three-day
workshop.
Aim: To provide practical and theoretical experience
of the use of reinforcement training with severely
subnormal children and adults in an intensive teaching
situation.
Entrance requirements:
(1) Some knowledge and experience of mental
handicap.
(2) Willingness to participate actively in supervised
and solo training sessions with children under
the instruction of the tutors.
(3) Willingness to share experiences gained in the
workshop both with the tutors and in their home
work situation.
The course will provide:
(1) Instruction on the theory and rationale of
reinforcement training.
12
enlarge their one-to-one and group skills with
both adults and children.
(3) Practical experience under supervision to enable
participants to implement and disseminate the
skills and knowledge acquired.
(4) A training manual and record sheets for on-
going programmes.
(5) Training materials for use in specific pro-
grammes.
(6) Follow-up support.
Training materials: The following training kits will
be provided to each participant: (1) Language kit, (2)
visual-motor equipment, (3) recommended training
programmes for self-help skills, (4) record and assess-
ment charts.
Course fee: E30.00 per person, inclusive of full
board and lodging.
These three courses have been arranged as a result
of the over-subscription of those taking place this
month. Should demand warrant it, all three courses
will be repeated yet again in March, 1974.
FEBRUARY
Symposium: Education and Assessment
Lea Castle Hospital, Wolverley, Nr. Kidderminster,
Worcs.
Open to anyone interested in education and training
of the mentally handicapped, but of particular
interest to teachers in special schools and training
centres and psychologists working with the mentally
retarded.
Friday, 8th February, 1974. 10.00 a.m.-4.00 p.m.
Fees: Members of IMS E2.00, Non-members i2.50.
Closing date for applications: 25th Januarv. 1974.
Further details available from the Secretary, IMS.
MARCH
Course: Educational Rhythmics for the Mentally
Handicapped
Lea Castle Hospital, Wolverley, Nr. Kidderminster,
Worcs.
Course leaders: Ferris and Jennet Robins from
Stafa, Switzerland.
We are delighted that Mr. and Mrs. Robins will be
returning to conduct their five-day workshop course in
educational rhythmics in response to our request as a
result of the interest expressed in their work.
The course is designed to open new possibilities on
the practical application of rhythmics to improve the
physical and mental performance of the mentally
handicapped, as an aid to general education.
Open to anyone working amongst or involved with
the mentally handicapped but of particular value to:
teachers, nurses, trainers, occupational therapists,
physiotherapists and play leaders.
Duration: 25th-29th March, 1974. Course fees:
Members of IMS E10.00 non-resident, Non-members
E12.50 non-resident. Limited accommodation is
available and rooms will be allocated on receipt of
avplication to attend, for which an extra charge will
be made.
APRIL
Symposium: Deprivation and the Mentally Handicapped
Further details in our March issue. Tentative
date: 24th April, 1974.
MAY
Training workshop in behaviour modification
Lea Hospital, Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove,
Worcs.
 Parents. Tentative date: 11th May, 1974.
Course on similar lines to those being held in
January, 1974 (details above) with practical advice and
instruction to parents on management of their child
at home with an emphasis on self-help, communi-
cation and play skills. Further details to be published
in our March issue
JUNE
Annual General Meeting
Wednesday, 5th June, 1974.
Conference: Design of play equipment for the
mentally handicapped and the use of the toy library.
Further details will appear in our March issue.
Tentative date: 18th June, 1974.
JULY
Second symposium: Language
Further details in March issue. Tentative date:
24th July, 1974.
AUGUST
International conference on the deaf/blind (by
invitation only)
SEPTEMBER
Full-time, certificated course in behaviour modification
For qualified nursing staff (approved by the Joint
Board of Clinical Nursing Studies).
Further details in March issue.
Intensive course in mental subnormality
For D.P.M. and M.R.C.Psych. candidates.
Lea Castle Hospital, Wolverley, Nr. Kidderminster,
Worcs.
16th-19th September, 1974.
Further details in March issue.
OCTOBER
Extended multi-disciplinary course in mental sub-
normality
Lea Castle Hospital, Wolverley, Nr. Kidderminster,
Worcs.
Aims: to enable people of different disciplines who
have a common interest in and a responsibility
towards the mentally handicapped to:
(1) have a group experience in which to share
knowledge and experience;
(2) learn together about the main aspects of mental
handicap;
(3) understand the contribution of different dis-
ciplines in the assessment of a mentally handi-
capped person and his/her family and in the
preparation of therapeutic programmes for the
individual and family;
(4)study under the guidance of experts in various
fields related to mental handicap and allow
dialogue with these experts with a view to
converting theory into practice.
Fortnightly on Wednesday afternoons from 2nd
October, 1974-9th July, 1975. 2.15 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Three terms.
Further details in March issue.
NOVEMBER
Symposium: Research techniques
Further details in March issue. Tentative date:
6th November, 1974.
DECEMBER
Third symposium: Language
Further details in March issue. Tentative date:
13th December, 1974.
JANUARY 1975
Follow-up symposium: Biochemical aspects of mental
subnormality
Castle Priory College
WALLINGFORD
“Ward staff in particular need more opportunities to
widen their horizons by exchanging ideas, and to devclop
their own ideas about ways in which they may give their
patients a fuller life.”
Command 4653.
CARING FOR THE SEVERELY
MENTALLY HANDICAPPED
An eight-week sandwich course for qualified
nurses at Ward Sister, Charge Nurse or Salmon
No. 6 level in hospitals for the mentally handi-
capped.
February 4th to March 1st and June 3rd to
June 28th, 1974.
A wide range of topics concerned with the care
and education of mentally handicapped children
and adults will be covered through talks, films,
discussions, practical work and visits.
TWO TRAINING COURSES FOR
HOUSEP,4RENTS/CARE STAFF - 1974/75
(a) Residential Care of Handicapped Children,
(b) Residential Care of Handicapped Adults.
Applications are invited for these 15-month
residential courses at Castle Priory College,
commencing in September, 1974. Candidates
must have at least one year’s full-time experience
of work with children or adults, and the
minimum age for consideration is 18.
Both courses include practical periods spent in
special schools for handicapped children, care
units for the mentally handicapped, and other
residential situations, as well as sessions in
College. The courses work in parallel and give
all participants an awareness of the work
encountered in a whole range of care establish-
ments, whilst enabling them to develop particular
skills for the two main fields of care.
~
Bequests for further information regarding all the above
courses should be sent to:-
The Principal, Castle Priory College, Thames Street,
Wallingford, Berkshire, OX10 OHE
Telephone: Wallingford 2551
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