Helping Students in the Dominican Republic...
Color of Language, a non-profit, gives 10% of our proceeds to various
other non-profits, so each time you purchase from us, you also are
supporting these worthy causes, in addition to helping us produce more
materials to help you and the families/ teachers of Deaf children. We
would like to introduce you to a non-profit we support and possibly
you too would like to donate directly to them. You may opt to for your 10% to support one or the other or none. Just
include that preference in the message portion of your order on-line or
in the fax or phone call to Color of Language.
Here are some facts about a special school in the Domincan Republic called, Voice for the Deaf.
What are your students like when they arrive?
- Their average age is 13.
- They cannot count to 100 or do basic math; many cannot count to 10!
- They have little or no Sign Language skills.
- They cannot read.
- They don't know their last names (most have two), and many don't even know their first name.
- A previous school may have not allowed them to return because of learning disabilities or hyperactivity.
- Some have had no previous schooling; those who have, typically have had less than three years, by age 13.
What are school-days like? Due to a number of factors, most Dominican schools are usually about four hours long. Children coming on public transportation are often an hour or more late, making their school day even shorter. Classes are cancelled when transportation strikes are called, and these happen several times a year. A heavy rain will shut down school as effectively as a snowstorm does in the Northern US and Canada. In hurricane season, this is a frequent occurrence. Although the country, including the capital suffers from extended blackouts , they often fall into a regular pattern which varies from area to area. Currently we get electricity during school hours in our area. (Each of the teachers, including myself, goes home to a blackout in progress, however.)
Please feel free to visit their website for more information: http://www.voiceforthedeaf.org