National Council for Deaf, a formative home for children

By Ananda KANNANGARA

The teaching staff

A mother of three, 42-year old Nalani Ranawaka said her four-year old daughter Nirmali is deaf by birth. Nalani had consulted specialist doctors to seek treatment for Nirmali’s hearing impairment but could not get it cured completely. Some doctors have said that it cannot be cured completely, but to a certain extent with proper treatment.

This is a very pathetic story of a mother whose youngest daughter, four-year old is deaf from birth. She is partially deaf which means she could hear a little. One doctor had told her this would not hamper her education and advised the parents to enrol her at a special school where differently abled children study.

When Sunday Observer met Nalani Ranawaka at a school function in Colombo last week she related the story of her daughter Nirmali. We do not know whether some other parents are suffering like Nalini.

There are not only deaf children in our society but also many with various deformities. Some are blind while others are mentally or physically handicapped.

Nalani would never have thought that she would be able to send her daughter to a school or any other educational institution because of her deafness. But, everything changed and Nalini’s dream came true when she heard about a pre-school for deaf children at the National Council for the Deaf (NCD) at Rajagiriya, an approved charity and a voluntary social service organisation. It is recognised by the government as a national organisation for the welfare of hearing impaired people and children.

The NCD runs a pre-school for deaf children between one and half years to six years. After finishing the pre-school education children could study in Grade One and Two classes, conducted by the NCD. Thereafter, these children are integrated into normal schools to continue with their secondary education from Grade Three to the Advanced Level classes.

The main objective of the NCD, which was set up in 1970 is to help hearing impaired children. The mission of the Council is to help children with hearing impairment and assist them to lead a peaceful life with dignity in society.

In addition to pre-school education, needy children are also provided with hostel facilities by the NCD at the Sri Chandrasekara School for the Deaf at Horetuduwa, Moratuwa. All services provided by the NCD for children are free.

A father of two and 34-year old Kamal Senadeera said his ten-year-old son Sameera complained that he cannot hear anything what anybody say from a distant place. He said his wife suggested to take the child to an ENT specialist. After a thorough check, the doctor diagnosed the child’s ailment. He had a slight deafness and the parents were directed to enroll the child to a school for deaf children.

They decided to put him to the Sri Chandrasekara School for the Deaf at Horetuduwa, Moratuwa, the educational institution, run by the National Council for the Deaf, established for the benefit of children from Grade one to Ordinary Level classes.

Sri Chandrasekara School for the Deaf admits hearing impaired children from the age of five years and above. Classes go up to the GCE (O/L) Examination and thereafter the children are enrolled into various job orientation programs. Children who wish to do further studies could do so.

According to NCD, Senior Director Mrs. Maud Senaratne, the Council runs several major projects for the benefit of deaf children such as the Sri Chandrasekara School for the Deaf at Horetuduwa, Moratuwa, and Pre-school and Grade one and two classes for hearing impaired children at Rajagiriya.

The NCD also conducts an Audiology Centre at Rajagiriya, sales centre for hearing aids, repair and services of hearing aids, ear mould laboratory, free field hearing assessment for children under four years by an ENT consultant, hearing testing, parent counselling and a job oriented programme.

Mrs. Senaratne said the NCD also has hearing aids such as high-tech fully digital hearing aids custom-made in-the-ear and completely in-the-Canal hearing aids and soft and hard ear moulds to suit all types of hearing aids. All hearing aids are individually programmed and fitted by experienced specialized technicians to maximum comfort.

Deaf Council building

The NCD offers free service for all hearing aids sold by them and also repairs all brands of hearing aids.

A mother of four, 40-year old Kanthi Kusumalatha is heartbreaking. She said her second child, 10-year-old son Damitra was short of hearing and they realised it when the boy was six years.

As the child was short of hearing the parents were not interested to send him to school. Only at that time the parents of Damitra came to know about the Sri Chandrasekara School for the Deaf at Moratuwa. The child was admitted to the school where he excelled in studies and sports.

A bank employee Shila Undugoda of Nugegoda said she got to know about the NCD through another person and she too admitted her son who is four years to the pre-school. She said she was happy with the education provided to the children. She also thanked the Senior Director of the NCD, Mrs. Maud Senaratna for the individual attention given to children in the school.The staff of Sri Chandrasekara School render a yeoman service for the children. They not only develop the education of children, but also encourage children to be involved in extra curricular activities.

The National Council for the Deaf (NCD) at Rajagiriya is open on week days from Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.00 pm and on Saturdays from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm.

Pix: Vipula AMARASINGHE