Members and associates from around the district met at Balclutha’s Rosebank Lodge for an anniversary dinner last Thursday.
"IHC has been at least 46 years in Balclutha with various residential houses, advocating for people with intellectual disabilities to get services and the help they need," former local chairwoman Vivienne Fiddes said.
"That’s now about 10 client people in the area people aged in their 40s to 70s in a flat and two residential homes."
The IHC Parents’ Association began when the son of Hal and Margaret Anton was born with Down syndrome in Wellington in 1949.
Common practice at the time was for children with intellectual disabilities to be in a large institution away from family. The Antons did not want this and were not alone.
Fifty parents attended an early meeting in 1949, and by 1953 the association had 1000 members opposed to large-scale institutionalisation, favouring the purchase of homes around the country for four persons and carers.
It was not until 1974 that the government imposed a moratorium on the expansion of psychiatric and psychopaedic hospitals.
IHC continues to champion the rights, welfare and inclusion of people with an intellectual disability, but faces volunteer and support number difficulties, as area associations have fallen from 45 to about 23.
"Clutha branch association funds requests from staff and family to fund holidays, outings, sporting activities and equipment for our houses and many other requests.
"The spectrum of intellectual disabilities has changed and so have ideas for support, but the need always remains and we have to stay hopeful about the options for the future," she said.
