'When the body is shattered and thrown out of gear by a disaster of such magnitude as a spinal cord injury, it is inevitable that the mind, too, falls into chaos. Therefore everyone connected with the rescue and rehabilitation of aparaplegic, no matter in what capacity, is confronted in all stages of this work with the paramount task of rescuing not only a broken body but also a broken personality. The will to live, despite great physical handicap, has to be restored, and the patient's full co-operation has to be gained in order to win his mind and heart back to activity and useful work. The ultimate aim is to make him as independent as possible and to restore to him his rightful place in social life.

With this conception as the leading principle we commenced treatment and re-education of paraplegic patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital four years ago.' (52)

'More and more it is realised by the paraplegic patients that the many details of physical training and re-education of movement, in combination with occupational therapy, training in our workshops, correspondence courses, and last but not least, recreational activities are not merely time-killing diversions but represent ways of restoring faith in themselves in order to master their disability and to prepare for a new life in the Big World outside.' - notes formation of choir esp. (53)

'most important of all, numerous paraplegics have already taken their places at work in the world, andmany more so are ready to do so one way or another, once society is ready to receive them - i.e., to give them a fair chance by providing homes and facilities for work adapted to their permanent disability. There can be no doubt that one of the most urgent problems in the present phase of readjustment of paraplegics to useful life is the reeducation of the public - in particular, employers - to a more co-operative understanding and helpful attitude towards these men and women.' (53)

'There is a group of paraplegics who, though physically well re-educated, have difficulty readjusting themselves to the new circumstances and strains of daily life once they have left the atmosphere of security of the Spinal Centre. These men need great attention, assistance and firm guidance by everyone concerned with their welfare at home. If they are not encouraged from the beginning to do all those things for themselves which they were capable of doing at the Centre, or are even discouraged to do them, they will inevitably lose the desire and capacity to become independent' (54)