An experimental resource centre on handicap in children. 1. Preliminary analysis of need for such a centre

An experimental information and resource centre on handicap in children for the use of staff in the health, social and educational services was set up in an area of London serving four adjacent boroughs. As a first step, a questionnaire was widely distributed to potential users of the centre asking for information about their work, training and recent reading in this subject. Of 192 replies, those from health visitors, medical officiers, teachers and therapists are analysed. Lack of adequate training, both at basic and post-qualification level, as well as a failure to keep up to date with specialized journals, encouraged the establishment of the resource centre, which also planned to provide a course of lectures and seminars. The nature of the material collected is briefly described.