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Marketing The Work Of The Handicapped

Creator: Elizabeth Hubbard (author)
Date: June 1942
Publication: The Crippled Child
Publisher: National Society for Crippled Children of the United States of America
Source: National Library of Medicine, General Collection

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T0 THOSE of us who have been working with handicapped adults, we daily hear the ever repeated cry, "I want a job -- to be self-supporting." In too many cases, we know that this is impossible. When we stop to think about the case of Mary or John, we know that many avenues of work are closed to them; but from the psychological point of view, they would be happier, as well as better physically and mentally, if given something to occupy their time and hands, particularly if that something brought returns that were their very own," for then we'd also have a raised morale. We are all alike in our desire for work to do and a place to fill, handicapped and normal, but to the handicapped the returns are vastly greater, not in actual cash valuation, but in health giving properties of mind and soul.

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The value of occupational therapy is now generally recognized and often part of the prescribed cure. In many cases parents do not realize the great value to be derived from craft training -- that busy hands produce happy minds and too often the family cannot afford the necessary supplies and materials. But early craft instruction received in an institution or from any other source may be the means of an earning power later on as proficiency is secured. Sometimes Mary or John does work at home and at first finds a ready market for her or his items among friends. But friendship is not a bottomless well and eventually sales become few and far between, the worker finds investment in material exceeding returns, work is pushed aside for lack of incentive, and in time the old cry, "What good am I?" Baffled, hurt, unable to earn any money that is their own, life assumes a dark and sinister role to be dreaded, not enjoyed.

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FOR THE last three years the Illinois Association for the Crippled has been facing this situation and seeking to find an answer. For the benefit of others, I would like to trace their endeavors and some of their findings.

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The first Christmas cooperative sale was held for two and a half weeks immediately preceding the holiday in 1939. Space was secured in a Michigan Avenue store rent free and the clerks were from the Association staff. Six organizations for the handicapped participated as well as a number of individuals not affiliated with any organization. The total number of Persons submitting work was less than fifty. Sales for the period amounted to a little over three hundred dollars of which 20 per cent was retained by the Illinois Association for the Crippled to meet incidental expenses.

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In October 1940, the Occupational Therapy Workshop was opened in Chicago sponsored jointly by the Chicago Woman's Club, the Illinois Association for the Crippled and the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association. Here handicapped adults, eighteen years of age and on through the seventies, have come for craft instruction. Some have been beginners, while others have needed only guidance in materials or colors, and a market. The shop has been in operation now for more than sixteen months, and we have found that the furnishing of a market is of major importance if we are to succeed.

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In December 1940, we had a small and limited number of items to enter in the second holiday sale sponsored by the Association. That year the shop was to open the Saturday after Thanksgiving and remain open through Christmas Eve. It was located on the near Northside, and was obtained rent free. Local stores furnished showcases, a box concern contributed boxes and paper bags, several radio broadcasting companies sponsored programs and pluggers, the advertising and formal announcements went out from the main office, and the clerks were volunteers interested in the project. Expenses included light, telephone, sales books, tissue paper and string. Mrs. Emily Waldman, then assistant to Mrs. Armstrong, Executive Secretary, was in charge.

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FOURTEEN ORGANIZATIONS and institutions, more than twice the number engaged in the first sale, participated including Victory Workshop for the deaf, Craft Shop for arrested T. B., Illinois Wing of the National Shut-In Society, Janeil Shop and a number of hospitals. There were also the unaffiliated handicapped in Illinois that had come to the attention of the Association who were given the opportunity of submitting work. A committee of three was appointed to pass on the work and pricing was based on quality and workmanship. While very little was absolutely rejected, poor work was kindly criticized and constructive suggestions sent to the workers for improving their product, stress being laid on the fact that returns would be greater where these improvements were made. When the books were closed after the sale, they showed that approximately two hundred and fifty individuals had participated, that $1100 worth of articles had been sold and that expenses had been $117. A 15 per cent commission was charged on all work sold to help defray expenses. Unsold work, as in the past year, was to be returned to the makers.

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THE OCCUPATIONAL Therapy Workshop, located as it was in the Chicago Woman's Club Building where two and a half floors were for residents, was proving to be a small but steady outlet for gift items. The suggestion was made that limited quantity of the Christmas stock suitable for year round sales be sent to the Workshop. This was done and the makers automatically began receiving the benefits of a small outlet. This was the real beginning of a state-wide homebound service. Occasional news items in the Club Bulletin helped to inform club members of new gift and holiday specials.

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