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http://www.periodico26.cu/english/news_tunas/barriers011006.htm
Las Tunas, Cuba, Jan 10, (P26).- Being born with a hearing impairment or losing that capacity in the course of time can be a serious problem. In the eastern Cuban province of Las Tunas, efforts are being made to educate hundreds of deaf children and teenagers to overcome their problems.
The efforts are proving that the disability does not necessarily have to prevent children from communicating, or having access to indispensable rights such as studying, working, and enjoying themselves when there is a social willingness to help them conquer their natural barriers. With a population of over 500,000 people, in Las Tunas 1,043 people suffer from deafness or some other kind of hearing impairment.
In the past there was only one sign language interpreter in the province. Students could not go beyond the sixth grade, after which they received some training that help them do some work. In general, there was much less awareness about the problems concerning this small segment of the population, said Ana Cristina Ochoa, local president of National Association of the Deaf (ANSOC).
She also explained that the implementation of a project of social integration has enabled deaf and hearing-impaired children to go on studying into secondary education and in some cases to university.
Currently over 70 children with special education needs go to the Pelayo Paneque school, an educational facility that is equipped with state-of-the-art teaching aids for the early stimulation of children under five who have hearing deficiencies.
The adult education system also offers them the chance of receiving a university education. At the moment, eleven deaf youngsters are taking degree courses in local university centers. They follow in the steps of Yusdel Hernandez and Sucelt Martinez, who have already graduated from veterinary and pedagogical courses, respectively.
Over the past year, some 20 young people have graduated as sign language interpreters in Las Tunas in order to contribute to the integration into society of those in need of their services.
The target of having an interpreter in every class where there is a deaf person has already been met in Las Tunas. The goal now is to train more people who would work in places where services are provided such as train stations, airports, and hospitals.
Las Tunas, Cuba, Jan 10, (P26).- Being born with a hearing impairment or losing that capacity in the course of time can be a serious problem. In the eastern Cuban province of Las Tunas, efforts are being made to educate hundreds of deaf children and teenagers to overcome their problems.
The efforts are proving that the disability does not necessarily have to prevent children from communicating, or having access to indispensable rights such as studying, working, and enjoying themselves when there is a social willingness to help them conquer their natural barriers. With a population of over 500,000 people, in Las Tunas 1,043 people suffer from deafness or some other kind of hearing impairment.
In the past there was only one sign language interpreter in the province. Students could not go beyond the sixth grade, after which they received some training that help them do some work. In general, there was much less awareness about the problems concerning this small segment of the population, said Ana Cristina Ochoa, local president of National Association of the Deaf (ANSOC).
She also explained that the implementation of a project of social integration has enabled deaf and hearing-impaired children to go on studying into secondary education and in some cases to university.
Currently over 70 children with special education needs go to the Pelayo Paneque school, an educational facility that is equipped with state-of-the-art teaching aids for the early stimulation of children under five who have hearing deficiencies.
The adult education system also offers them the chance of receiving a university education. At the moment, eleven deaf youngsters are taking degree courses in local university centers. They follow in the steps of Yusdel Hernandez and Sucelt Martinez, who have already graduated from veterinary and pedagogical courses, respectively.
Over the past year, some 20 young people have graduated as sign language interpreters in Las Tunas in order to contribute to the integration into society of those in need of their services.
The target of having an interpreter in every class where there is a deaf person has already been met in Las Tunas. The goal now is to train more people who would work in places where services are provided such as train stations, airports, and hospitals.