Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation of the Mental Retard

The ligislation, social reforms and extensive research programmes hi the Twent ie th Century have benefitted the mentally retarded population. Prior to this, the mentally retarded were institutionalised and received only custodial care. As research progressed, the living conditions for the mentally retarded improved and the concept of the multifaceted approach to the problem of the mental retard was born . This in turn , led to the evolution of teams of experts work n g individually and in collaboration with each other. The Medical Team comprising of the family physician, obstetrician, pediatrician, psychiatrist, clinical and educational psychologist and the nursing staff handle the early detection, clinical management , health care, prevention and relevant research. The social worker's, work within the community structure, as well as clinical and educational settings, and manages the social welfare aspect of the retard and his whole family. The Educational and Rehabilitation Team, comprising of teachers, occupational therapists and workshop trainers, train these children from the earliest years for the development of motor, social i7itellectual and vocational skills to enable them to be as independent as possible.