THE HISTORY, CLIENTELE, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND NEEDS OF THE STATE CRIPPLED CHILDREN'S SERVICE ARE DESCRIBED. THE AGENCY, DESIGNED TO HELP WITH MEDICAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF CRIPPLED CHILDREN, TRIES SIMULTANEOUSLY TO AID THE CHILDREN IN REDUCING THEIR HANDICAPS, IN ADVANCING EDUCATIONALLY DURING PHYSICAL REHABILITATION, AND IN ADJUSTING EMOTIONALLY TO HANDICAPS, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY RELATONS. THE CRIPPLED CHILDREN'S SERVICE PROGRAMS WERE AT FIRST MAINLY ORTHOPEDIC BUT NOW SERVE ALMOST ALL HANDICAPPING CONDITIONS. PROGRAMS VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. STATE AND VOLUNTEER AGENCIES COOPERATE IN TRYING TO HELP AS MANY CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT DUPLICATION OF SERVICES. ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE SERVICE'S FUNCTIONS, THE ALABAMA SOCIETY FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN AND ADULTS FURNISHES TRANSPORTATION TO HOSPITAL CENTERS AND TO CLINICS. EACH COUNTY HAS A LOCAL UNIT THAT PLANS JOINTLY WITH THE SERVICE STAFF. LOCAL GROUPS ASSIST IN BUYING WHEELCHAIRS AND OTHER HOME EQUIPMENT NEEDED BY THE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED. THE CLINICS AND HOSPITAL CENTERS HAVE BECOME MORE ACCESSIBLE TO RURAL CHILDREN. ITINERANT CLINICS SERVE MOST RURAL COUNTIES. SOME TYPES OF CONDITIONS ARE TREATED ONLY IN LARGER CENTERS BECAUSE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF SPECIALISTS AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN INVOLVED. NEEDS IN ALABAMA, WHICH TYPIFY THE NEEDS OF OTHER STATES, ARE FOR ADDITIONAL NURSES, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, AND MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS, FOR MORE CAMPING AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE HANDICAPPED, FOR MORE WORKSHOPS FOR THE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED, AND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CLINICS TO SERVE THE MULTIPLE HANDICAPPED CHILD IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE THE NECESSITY FOR ONE CHILD TO ATTEND SEVERAL CLINICS.