700 HEAR DR. LEO STEINDLER

Specialist Makes Strong Plea For More Facilities For Handicapped

Launch Movement For Permanent Work

Care and Life Training For Afflicted Youth is Pressing Need

SENATOR O. E. WELLER INTERESTED

May 16, 1926—Over seven hundred persons at the Royal Theatre
on Sunday afternoon heard Dr. Leo Steindler make a plea for the ex-
tension of the facilities for the care of the physically handicapped
colored people of the State.

Dr. Steindler, who is a specialist on diseases of the eye, ear, nose
and throat, and is attached to the Veterans' Bureau rehabilitation ser-
vice at Fort McHenry, dwelt at length upon the measures that might
be taken to alleviate some of the hardships that the handicapped
persons of the race must face.

"It is not only a question of providing hospital care for these
unfortunates," said Dr. Steindler, "but we must get the right at-
titude toward them. Treat them as brothers and seek to get them
do as much as they can for themselves."

Training that will fit the handicapped for usefulness in spite of
their physical debility, is the most pressing need of the group, ac-
cording to the speaker. The talk was well received by the hearers.
Dr. Steindler was accompanied by Dr. William Eledor, also stationed
at Fort McHenry.

Other features on the program included music by the blind band,
selections by the blind glee club, by the choir of Sharp Street church
and R chorus of 150 children from the junior and senior high schools,
directed by Mrs. Rosalia Dawson. A blind pianist, Stephen Stanley,
rendered a solo.

Talks were also made by Rev. J. Albert Greene, who gave a re-
sume of the history of the Association for the Handicapped, under
whose auspices the meeting was held; Linwood Koger, president of the
local brat ch of the N. A. A. C. P., and by Rev. C. Harold Stepteau
who made an appeal for funds, for aiding in carrying on the work this
organization has initated.

Rev. Gearge F. Bragg and Rev. John Colbert also had prominent
places on the program, and Dr. Ernest Lyon presided. This meeting
is the first of a series that has been planned to interest the community
in the handicapped members of the race. Robert W. Coleman was
largely instrumental in arranging the gathering. Ushers were fur-
nished by the Junior Federation of clubs and were in charge of Mrs.
Sarah Boling Mason.

Since 1913 Senator O. E. Weller has been interested in the Asso-
ciation, says Mr. Coleman. It was through his courtesy together with
that of Mr. Sargent, Regional Manager of Veterans' Bureau at Fort
McHenry, that Dr. Steindler's services were obtained.

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