| |
| PRELIMINARY
ACTIVITIES : |
| |
Narada's
grandmother who had followed a short-term course at the Faculty of Human
Communication Disorders of Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scortia,
Canada, - where she was when Narada’s impairment was discovered,
had brought back a copy of Pat Vaughan’s “Learning to Listen”
outlining the success stories of six mothers who had rehabilitated their
impaired children. It has been translated into Sinhala by her since, with
the permission of its publishers “The Voice Foundation”.
|
| A
pre-school for local hearing impaired children was inaugurated on 20 May
2000, in a suitably equipped room at their home. It is now attended by
six children and their mothers. It is conducted with the help of an aide
trained at the School for Deaf, Ragama, where Narada received his initial
training. Reverend Sister Charmaine Mendis (Diploma Teacher of the Deaf,
Dublin; Diploma in Audiology, Manchester) Audiologist of that school serves
the Foundation as its advisor. |
| |
| The Foundation
has also been registered with the Government’s Department of Social
Services as a Non-Governmental Organization Registered No: L.14105 |
| |
| Click
here to view the ongoing and proposed
projects. |
| |
| PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME : |
| Stage
one for which assistance is sought : |
|
| The pre-school
needs more space for it’s classroom activities and more importantly
and urgently, for outdoor play activities. A 22 perch block of Land with
a residential building that could be used initially for indoor activities,
in the heart of the residential area of Gampaha has been identified as
a suitable venue for the proposed NARADA FOUNDATION CENTRE. The legal
deed of this land with a certified English translation, and an assessment
by a registered Assessor, are annexed in seeking funds for the purchase,
in the name of the Foundation. The approximate cost of it in US Dollars
is 25,000/-, (approximately - leaving allowance to the fluctuating Sri
Lankan rupee). |
| |
| Experience
gained so far : |
|
| Parents bringing
in their Hearing Impaired children for help and guidance appear helpless
and need correct guidance and compassion as they are often confused with
incorrect advice and ritualistic practices as possible cures. |
| They have
to be taught Therapy Techniques to rehabilitate the hearing impaired children.
Parents have to be drilled to accept that the rehabilitation time is directly
proportional to their labour and concern. |
|
| |
| The Tasks
ahead : |
| The establishment
of a fully equipped Audiology Centre with : |
| a) |
An "Early
intervention" centre with outdoor play facilities. |
| b) |
An Audiology
clinic for testing and obtaining audiometric reports |
| c) |
Ear mould
manufacturing unit |
| d) |
Provision
of hearing aids at a price lower than in the open market |
| e) |
The establishment
of a hearing aid maintenance workshop, that |
|
will attend
to hearing aids with minimum of downtime without aids |
| |
for the user. |
| f) |
An auditorium
/ conference room |
| g) |
With possible
overnight accommodation for parents calling over |
|
for services,
from distant places. |
