107-year-old School for the Deaf & Blind appeals for its Sustenance
View(s):The School for the Deaf & Blind in Ratmalana, the biggest and the oldest school chain in the country which completed 107 years recently, is appealing for support, to improve its facilities for the visually handicapped students.
“We have accommodation for150 children in our school, most of whom are completely blind, while some suffer from multiple disorders, and others are hyperactive or have autistic disorders. Our main goal is to give them a sound education and render them employable, when they leave school”.
Some successfully complete their ‘O’ Level or ‘A’ Level exams and are gainfully employed, yet others who fail these exams, must be trained in some Vocational Skill, to be gainfully employed, as we do not want them becoming beggars or be poverty stricken in society. Blind children possess good abilities of speech with good voices. Hence, we must make use of such talents and create job avenues in voice related professions such as announcers, dubbing/telecom officers with the relevant training for gainful employment to overcome social pitfalls,” stated Principal Mrs Samanthika Jayasuriya.
“Recently, we initiated a Media unit, where we have broadcasting services for our children, with the assistance of some of our members who already possess the requisite experience and knowledge in this area, to train students in the Media profession. My teachers have gradually worked towards this worthy cause and now reached a point where we need to find the resources in training these children further. We also need to find the necessary equipment to further upgrade the respective Broadcasting unit which we initiated with whatever sources available at the start” she further enlightened.
“The other issue is that, most blind children refuse to use white canes, though it is a must, as they cannot always be dependent on others in their day-to-day activities. We should start this with children from Grades 1, 2 and 3, where every child should be trained on how to use a white cane, then they will not refuse it later. At present, there are sophisticated white canes available with devices which are more helpful, where, when contact is made, a sound is generated, which is ideal. For this we hope to seek assistance from generous donors” Mrs Jayasuriya further elaborated.
- Nilanthi Wickramasinghe