Are the adult training centers/sheltered workshops being underutilized?

Abstract

Many studies, as well as a great deal of research has been conducted on the mentally retarded child. Until only recently, it seemed as though the only retarded citizens worthy of special attention were the children and the only efforts worth making were those during the early formative years. Fortunately, this concept, like so many others in the field of mental retardation, has and is continuously undergoing a healthy revision. It would, in fact, really be rather short-sighted if we were to ignore the adult, into whom the child will eventually grow. This dissertation will therefore only review one particular contingent of persons with a mental handicap namely the adult. On leaving the various ‘special schools’ some of the persons with a mental handicap are generally placed into one of the three Adult Training Centers on the Island. It appears that from here on though, there is little space for movement elsewhere. I will initiate the first part of this dissertation by looking into one of the definitions of mental handicap, clarifying briefly its rationale. following this, t would like to highlight some inherent potentials of persons with a mental disability, as well as certain common characteristics. I will conclude this first section of the dissertation by putting forward some issues which I consider are of crucial importance. In Sections 2 and 3, some information that I have gathered and observed at the Adult Training Center at Hal-Far and at the Richmond Area Association For Retarded Citizens in Virginia, will be outlined in brief. In the second part of my dissertation, I will commence by focusing on some attitudinal and conceptual differences between the two establishments, which I consider to be of importance with respect to service. I will then proceed by describing some recent orientations with regards to Adult Training Centers - what they can and should be like. Accordingly, I will venture into proposing what it might take to accomplish such a task. Section 4 therefore, will deal with some suggestions as to how to make better use of the resources already available, hence improving the quality of service offered. In the final part of this dissertation (Section 5) I will conclude by presenting a number of gains which, in my opinion, will be of benefit to both the Adult Training Center and to the Maltese population in general, if such objectives were to be accomplished.