VAANI Deaf Children’s Foundation (Formerly IDCS-India)

1. VAANI Deaf Children’s Foundation(Formerly IDCS-India) Integrating Deaf Children in CBR Issues for Consideration Presented by: Ms. Brinda Crishna During: CBR Forum Partners Meet (South) Date: 6th Jun 2008 Venue: Don Bosco, Bangalore

2. VAANI VISION and MISSION Access for every deaf child • Access to communication • Access to information and the knowledge to comprehend it in its entirety • Access to education • Access to equal opportunities • Access to protection and safety • Access to a full and complete life

3. Our Work Involves • Partnerships in the following States Karnataka / West Bengal /Assam /Gujarat • Different kinds of projects we partner with: CBR Projects, Special Schools, Pre-primary Education for Deaf, Parents Training Programmes, Information Kiosks, Technical partnerships

4. Our CBR Partners • In Karnataka • Association of People with Disabilities (APD) • Samuha Samarthya • In West Bengal • Graham Bell Centre for Deaf • In Assam • Swabalambhi CBR project • In Meghalaya • Ferrando Speech & Learning Centre

5. CBR- a cross disability approach • an approach which involves all categories of disability • promotes collective planning for each category of disability • approach seeks co-operation and networking from all stakeholders, both Govt. and non govt. organisation Rehabilitation • an approach which seeks inclusion of disabled people • access to health care, education, emotional security etc. • Informed choice • full participation in decision making on issues concerning self, family and community

6. Background…deaf children in CBR services CBR workers are multi-purpose rehabilitation professionals. Their role is generally to: • provide information about services, schemes and statutory provisions including • linking with Block Development schemes • linking with Sarva Shiksha Abihyan (SSA) • linking with Gram Panchayat activities • other community level resources • sensitise family and community about disabilities • assist with child’s admission to school • provide support to teachers in ordinary schools for inclusion • provide home based services to individual children

7. What we feel is going well • The CBR structures are in place in terms of mapping of villages, recruitment of staff, identifying children, division of work • Established networks with other NGO’s and GO’s • Training of anganwadi teachers, government teachers under ICDS, SSA schemes and other programmes • Know how to access schemes and facilities from the government and ensure the parents are able to benefit from the schemes • Several years of knowledge and experience • Have integrated women from families of deaf children into SHG’s

8. Facts…deaf children in CBR services Deafness is an invisible disability, it is a crucial sensory deficit which has an impact on a basic human function… COMMUNICATION. CBR workers face their greatest challenge in the rehabilitation of deaf children

9. Status…deaf children in CBR services • limited language and communication skills • very poor literacy skills • may be attending local schools but no inclusion • poor community involvement • ignorance about the complexities of deafness as a disability amongst families and CBR workers leading to isolation within families and the community • Face ridicule, neglect and abuse

10. Our Concerns in CBR • Have not understood all the implications of impact of deafness on language • CBR programmes are not designed to impart language or education to the deaf child and no additional support to children attending government schools • Work with parents limited to imparting benefits and schemes and also involving them in SHG’s • There are not sufficient referral points for other alternatives / higher education and vocational training • There is a need to develop good role models • A resource person for sign language is required • Communication needs of children not being met • Social and emotional needs of hearing impaired children not being addressed

11. What we have done: • Parents training on • Developing communication • Social and Emotional Needs of Deaf Children • Training to parents and CBR workers on Pre-Reading and Reading Skills • Training to parents and CBR workers on providing auditory training to their deaf children • Sign language Training to CBR Workers and Parents

12. What We Have Done – Contd. 2 • Workshops for CBR workers to prepare necessary teaching aids • Training to parents and CBR workers on ‘How to Tell a Story’ and to teach language using daily activities • Regular Parents Meetings • Exposure Visits for Parents and CBR Workers • Teaching Learning Material Produced

13. Our question to you…… How do we provide access to every deaf child: ?