The establishment of a provincial information and referral service for physically disabled people

• Main Author: McDonald, Rosemary Christine, 1951-
• Other Authors: Memorial University of Newfoundland. Faculty of Education
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 1980
• Subjects: People with disabilities > Services for > Newfoundland and Labrador; Information services > Newfoundland and Labrador; People with disabilities > Newfoundland and Labrador; Canada; Newfoundland; Newfoundland studies; University of Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses2/id/79149

Thesis (M.Ed.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1980. Education Bibliography: leaves [62]-68. -- Pages 86-123 have been deleted from the library copies of this thesis. Permission must be obtained from the individuals listed to use their names. -- Previously copyrighted material in Appendix G, leaves 137-139 not microfilmed. The purpose of this project was to describe the initiation of an information and referral service (I&RS) for physically disabled people in Newfoundland and Labrador. The service focused on providing links between the client in need of information or a service with resources to meet that need. The necessity for such an I&RS was documented by theses, national studies, and a provincial survey. -- The service was initiated in two phases as follows: Phase I, covering eleven steps from the decision to establish the I&RS through assessment of service requirements, decisions on storage, retrieval, funding, personnel and forms, to the collection, processing and updating of the information; Phase II, covering three steps from this establishment of client contacts, announcement of the I&RS and finally, the design of a public relations program. - The review of the literature presented: an historical perspective of I&RS's; a Canadian perspective of I&RS's; a Newfoundland and Labrador perspective of I&RS’s; and a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of four distinct types of I&RS's. The appendices contained: support documentation; lists of services, foundations, resource contacts, media contacts; a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of ten classification systems; instruction manuals for McBee system; grant application forms and letters; job descriptions; a floor plan; copies of all forms, letters, questionnaires, press releases; and a sample card. -- Three general recommendations were made: (1) that the I&RS advocate the provision of services to fill identified gaps; (2) that permanent funding be obtained for the I&RS; and (3) that two additional information services be established. -- A number of more specific recommendations were also detailed.