Day Care of Mentally Handicapped People: Why is it an Issue?

Abstract

Day care of mentally handicapped people fulfils the need of both the person and the community. The transmission of culture which occurs through nurturing, education and social integration in the case of ordinary people is also necessary in the case of a mentally handicapped person. This alone can eventually lead the mentally handicapped person to prepare himself for the role of an adult in the community. Day care plays an important part in facilitating this transmission because, contrary to common belief, mentally handicapped people can learn better during their early adult life. Yet factors within the community itself make this provision less effective. The aim of this article is to review day care in the context of its need and place in social organization and the problems in the community at present.

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