well, i want to share this experience with all of you because it was a great experience for me and a blessing. Because i was part of this, i was one of the first 5 students in my hometown, Baroda in India. The school name is Akshar Trust, started in 1984. I enrolled there around 85 or 86. Then i moved here to USA in 1990 and i havent gone back to india since then. After 14 or 15 years, i visited india with my parents for the first time, there i met my former schoolmates and met new students and teachers and old teachers as well as my headmistress. Right now, we have more than 200 deaf students!
Everyone was excited to meet me because i was the first student who surpass many other students. I was able to speak orally and develop an understanding. You see, in india, deaf culture is not really accept by the public like here in USA. People consider them mute or deaf and dumb, plus the hearing aid technology is not advanced. Plus they use broken sign language, not a complete standard ASL. it is tough and a long story, but you can understand the desire to improve and to help them.
When i met them, it was really touching and a grateful experience, i became mentors to some of the students and to the regular students who are learning to become teachers to teach the deaf.
a year and half after my visit, i went back in december of 2006, i engaged in more activity with them. Talked with teachers about how the deaf culture was here in USA and in school. Talked about my experience, talked to deaf students through papers and through help with deaf teachers. As a result of my commitment and through numerous donations, the TIMES OF INDIA, has asked me for interview which was my first real interview by the widely popular newspaper, being equal to NEW YORK TIMES in a sense.
here is my article and i hope you enjoy my share of experience.
here is more info about the school, Akshar Trust. Please help donate. Even $1 can help !!
NGOs in Baroda - Lend Us Your Ears: Akshar Trust
thanx
Everyone was excited to meet me because i was the first student who surpass many other students. I was able to speak orally and develop an understanding. You see, in india, deaf culture is not really accept by the public like here in USA. People consider them mute or deaf and dumb, plus the hearing aid technology is not advanced. Plus they use broken sign language, not a complete standard ASL. it is tough and a long story, but you can understand the desire to improve and to help them.
When i met them, it was really touching and a grateful experience, i became mentors to some of the students and to the regular students who are learning to become teachers to teach the deaf.
a year and half after my visit, i went back in december of 2006, i engaged in more activity with them. Talked with teachers about how the deaf culture was here in USA and in school. Talked about my experience, talked to deaf students through papers and through help with deaf teachers. As a result of my commitment and through numerous donations, the TIMES OF INDIA, has asked me for interview which was my first real interview by the widely popular newspaper, being equal to NEW YORK TIMES in a sense.
here is my article and i hope you enjoy my share of experience.
here is more info about the school, Akshar Trust. Please help donate. Even $1 can help !!
NGOs in Baroda - Lend Us Your Ears: Akshar Trust
thanx
