The Learning Center
The learning center is our main focus and our largest program. We first opened our doors to students in September 2011. At present we have 10 students ranging in age from 3 to 17 years old. We teach Filipino Sign Language along with basic literacy, numeracy and life skills. Creativity expression is encouraged in both art and sign language. We instill a strong sense of Deaf identity and culture in our students, as we believe this builds the foundation for self-empowerment and self-confidence.
Outreach to Shut-ins and Orphans
For some of the deaf children and youth who cannot come to our center, we offer home visits and outreach services. The children under this program may have parents who are resistant to the idea of educating the deaf, may be extremely shy from years of isolation and thus hesitant to go to the learning center, or may be orphaned/abandoned and living at an orphanage.
We strongly believe that interaction with other Deaf people and familiarization with sign language is the first step towards changing their lives. Home visits are only temporary and serve the purpose of boosting the self-confidence of the deaf child, introducing sign language to the child and his parents, as well as strengthening our relationship with the family. Although not all home visit set-ups result in enrollment at the learning center, it is our goal to eventually have the child attend regular classes where he will have the opportunity to interact with deaf peers and learn in a linguistically stimulating environment.
We strongly believe that interaction with other Deaf people and familiarization with sign language is the first step towards changing their lives. Home visits are only temporary and serve the purpose of boosting the self-confidence of the deaf child, introducing sign language to the child and his parents, as well as strengthening our relationship with the family. Although not all home visit set-ups result in enrollment at the learning center, it is our goal to eventually have the child attend regular classes where he will have the opportunity to interact with deaf peers and learn in a linguistically stimulating environment.
Rural Surveying for Deaf Children
When there are no classes during summer vacation, we spend our time looking for potential students. To date, we have surveyed approximately 65 barangays (neighborhoods) in 7 municipalities / towns in Albay province. We identified 39 deaf and hard-of-hearing children between the ages of 3 and 19.
Unfortunately, only a small percentage of these children come to our learning center. Factors such as distance, the child's age, parental decisions, and dormitory restrictions are also taken into consideration. However, a number of those located do participate in activities hosted by the Albay Association of the Deaf (AAD), Inc., which gives them exposure to the Deaf community.
Unfortunately, only a small percentage of these children come to our learning center. Factors such as distance, the child's age, parental decisions, and dormitory restrictions are also taken into consideration. However, a number of those located do participate in activities hosted by the Albay Association of the Deaf (AAD), Inc., which gives them exposure to the Deaf community.