Educational activities include pre-primary, primary and pre-vocational training. In total, nearly 100 children attend the classes and receive the special attention they need each day.

"The aim of this school is to simplify the children's lives by offering them educational programs based on visual support, for example using the Internet" says Noorjehan Joonas, managing director of the school. Both parents and children appreciate the support and advice they get from a qualified team.

The speech therapist, Farzane Keenoo, works with the children during individual sessions. She is the one who estimates the evolution of a child's deafness. She also intervenes with small groups of children during the class. Stephanie Fanchette is the psychologist. She holds psychological sessions for both parents and children. "Some parents feel guilty about their child's handicap, others have to be reminded about their responsibilities because they don't realize that their child needs specific care."

The school also has its own laboratory in which ear moulds are made and the hearing aid fittings are repaired. "The children are lively and always ask for new activities. But the hearing aid fitting is fragile, and most parents can't afford the maintenance cost."

The professional integration of a handicapped child can be difficult. But the increased incidence of training centres like IVTB allows them to find a profession. "A couple of years ago, a deaf young person could only practise manual activities. With the development of the Internet, he has more professional opportunities" explains Noorjehan Joonas.

According to her, informatics leads to a better communication. Moreover her Computer project was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Grand Baie and the school now has several computers. It now plans to develop the Maurician Sign Language to improve communication between parents, children, and teachers. "It would help the children to have a better educational level. A deaf child will have different choices and won't be automatically directed to a prevocational class," explains Stephanie Fanchette.

The first dictionary of the Mauritian Sign Language, composed of 1200 signs, should be finished by August. The school for deaf children is also working on a draft with the MBC and the government to make people aware of the existence of this sign language. "The more current it is, the better the communication will be," says the managing director. The program should be called One day, one sign and will consist in offering the child a cartoon in sign language with subtitles.

The Society for the Welfare of the Deaf created the school to promote the integration of children. Psychologist, speech therapist and teachers agree that overprotection is not a solution for the welfare of the child. But more and more children are proving they can gain real qualifications, and this school is the first in Mauritius to guide them, and to give them a real chance.

Now, children have more professional opportunities thanks to modern equipment such as the Internet.

By Preety Nadarasapillay