- "Disability is a matter of perception. If you can do just one thing well, youre needed by someone" Martina Navratilova
SERVICE PROJECTS
YMCA SERVICES CENTRE FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED
Hearing Impairment is more complex and a much worse misfortune because of the loss of the most vital stimulus, the sound of the voice that brings languages, sets thoughts and helps us in intellectual company of men and women. These immortal words of the great scholar Helen Keller seem to have moved the Madurai YMCA during late 1960s. Children with hearing impairment born into a family were considered a curse and a burden or a punishment from God. Having witnessed the helpless situation and complex problems of the hearing impaired young people, the Madurai YMCA initiated a special school in the year 1971. Over these years, our services have proved that the children who suffer hearing loss can be successfully trained to overcome the deficiency and lead a happy life. The programmes such as the preschool, special school, integrated education, capacity building and skill development fulfils the dire needs of the aurally and the orally challenged boys and girls between the age of 3 and 21 with residential facilities. Nearly 1200 boys and girls have successfully completed their studies and are now happily integrated into their own communities.
The Preschool trains young children with hearing impairment from 2½ years in speech language, auditory training and lip reading for 3 years and integrate them in regular schools. More than 100students are integrated into normal schools.
The special school follows the Tamilnadu state curriculum and every year students with hearing impaired appear for the X standard Government examinations and pass out, successfully. More than 60 hearing impaired students have been integrated at the Capron Hall Higher Secondary School for girls and RC Primary School for boys. Many of our students are graduated and are employed. The capacity building programme 0ffers life skills training in basic English and computer education. Vocational training in bakery is available at the school for dropout students.
The special school is upgraded into a Higher Secondary level of education during the year 2013. 25 students currently pursue XI standard education. Though these children are exempted from learning English language, we teach them the basics of English from 1st standard onwards.
Address
YMCA Kamak Higher Secondary School for the Hearing Impaired
Visalakshipuram, Madurai 14
Project Head: Mrs. Ramola Das
Phone No : 0452-2533813.
General Secretary: Mrs. J.Shamila Doris
Mobile No: 94430 - 17760.