Our students come from impoverished families, many who make a living by small-scale farming, vending, or other labor-intensive jobs. They often have many siblings. Given the children's deafness, parents prioritize the education of their hearing children before that of their deaf children. Deaf children, especially girls, are often tasked with household chores instead of being sent to school. This becomes routine and they become deaf adults who are accustomed only to the limits of the family home and neighborhood. However, with an accessible and affordable education, families begin to form a new sense of appreciation for their Deaf child. When parents see their Deaf child learning and growing in self-confidence, the whole family adopts a 'can do' attitude towards deafness. Education has positive effects in all aspects of the Deaf child's life. She will be allowed more independence, both because the parents see her as capable and because she has the confidence and tools it takes to interact with others in the hearing world. She will develop a positive self-identity with the Deaf community and through the use of sign language, and bringing this into the family home will foster new communication opportunities for all family members, lessening the isolation that many Deaf children experience with their families.
Their Lives Today
Each time a deaf child is given the opportunity to learn language and gain an education, a whole new world opens in front of her. Today, our students are empowered - they know their names, their birthdays, and they understand what it means to be Deaf. They have embraced their language with confidence and are not shy to sign in public. Stories come alive in their hands because they are understood and can understand. The written word is becoming familiar after years of not knowing even the alphabet, opening up doors of communication with the hearing world. Our students today can look towards a future of community and opportunity, albeit one not free of daily challenges that every Deaf person must face. They have just embarked on a journey that will open their minds and strengthen their spirits.