<p>Subsequently, the couple learnt about Rotary West Institute for Mother and Deaf Child in Bogadi, Mysore. The school believes that there is no better teacher than the mother. <br />At the Institute, the mothers become teachers, and students with difficulty in hearing have to attend school only with their mothers. This rule is relaxed only if both the parents have a physical difficulty such as visual impairment. In such cases, students are allowed to attend school accompanied by a close relative.<br /><br />There is a buzz in the classroom with teachers and caretakers constantly posing questions to students and encouraging them to answer the questions. The mothers stress the names of objects while communicating with the students. Objects which are used in our daily life such as cooker, stove, table, chair, fruit, flowers, etc are arranged on a table and children who are in their early stage of learning are taught to pronounce the word, followed by related questions.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, headmistress Uma said the training is round the clock for the mother and the child — from the time the child gets up in the morning to the time s/he goes to bed. It is important that the mother is patient, while teaching the child to talk, instead of teaching them to lip read. The same word is repeated through the whole week to ensure the word is not forgotten. After the word phase, the student is taught sentences. Training is a step-by-step process and by the time the student completes training, s/he will be able to face the challenges of daily life. The student will then be ready to seek admission to a normal school and join mainstream academic learning.<br /><br />The institution’s method of teaching has gained word-of-mouth publicity and mothers from various parts of the State including Bijapur, Belgaum, Chitradurga and Chamarajanagar, and neighbouring states — Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and even Chattisgarh — have admitted their wards to this school. <br /><br />The Institute for Mother and Deaf Child was started 30 years ago during the International Year for the Handicapped by Wg Cdr K K Srinivasan and his wife Rathna, at a time when there were very few opportunities available for the hearing impaired even in advanced countries. The couple, also parents of a hearing impaired child, trained at Little Woodford School (now Balavidyalaya) in Chennai. After thorough training, the couple started a school of their own to impart teaching methods for the welfare of children suffering here. Some innovative methods were tried, which included training the mother along with their children. The school which began with four hearing impaired children at their residence now has more than 100 students. <br /><br />In association with Rotary...<br /><br />In 1994, Rotary Club of Mysore West was inspired by the work of the Institute and joined hands with Parents’ Association of Deaf Children to start an organisation which is now called Rotary West and Parents’ Association for Mother and Deaf Children Trust. Thanks to the gesture of some philanthropists, a hostel with 26 sound-proof rooms were built for mothers who come here from across the country with a lot of hope. The main intention of the school is to impart speech-based education and not sign language, integrating them into the regular schooling system.<br /><br />Rathna B Shetty, president of the association, said early diagnosis of hearing impairment and starting training at the right time enables children to face the world like their counterparts in mainstream schools. <br /><br />Technological advancements such as good-quality hearing aids and cochlear implants have come as a boon for children with these problems. She also stressed the importance of regular monitoring of children and said mothers play an important role in helping children join the mainstream. The association is planning to construct an indoor auditorium and seeks contributions for hearing aids as many children belong to the lower strata of society and find it difficult to even meet the hostel’s nominal expenses.<br /><br />The parents are initially provided guidance about the goals that need to be met. </p>.<p>Appropriate fun activities are also chalked out for parents so they can involve children at home. These activities enhance communication skills and help children learn to use speech socially. Auditory learning aims at maximum use of audition rather than vision.</p>
<p>Subsequently, the couple learnt about Rotary West Institute for Mother and Deaf Child in Bogadi, Mysore. The school believes that there is no better teacher than the mother. <br />At the Institute, the mothers become teachers, and students with difficulty in hearing have to attend school only with their mothers. This rule is relaxed only if both the parents have a physical difficulty such as visual impairment. In such cases, students are allowed to attend school accompanied by a close relative.<br /><br />There is a buzz in the classroom with teachers and caretakers constantly posing questions to students and encouraging them to answer the questions. The mothers stress the names of objects while communicating with the students. Objects which are used in our daily life such as cooker, stove, table, chair, fruit, flowers, etc are arranged on a table and children who are in their early stage of learning are taught to pronounce the word, followed by related questions.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, headmistress Uma said the training is round the clock for the mother and the child — from the time the child gets up in the morning to the time s/he goes to bed. It is important that the mother is patient, while teaching the child to talk, instead of teaching them to lip read. The same word is repeated through the whole week to ensure the word is not forgotten. After the word phase, the student is taught sentences. Training is a step-by-step process and by the time the student completes training, s/he will be able to face the challenges of daily life. The student will then be ready to seek admission to a normal school and join mainstream academic learning.<br /><br />The institution’s method of teaching has gained word-of-mouth publicity and mothers from various parts of the State including Bijapur, Belgaum, Chitradurga and Chamarajanagar, and neighbouring states — Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and even Chattisgarh — have admitted their wards to this school. <br /><br />The Institute for Mother and Deaf Child was started 30 years ago during the International Year for the Handicapped by Wg Cdr K K Srinivasan and his wife Rathna, at a time when there were very few opportunities available for the hearing impaired even in advanced countries. The couple, also parents of a hearing impaired child, trained at Little Woodford School (now Balavidyalaya) in Chennai. After thorough training, the couple started a school of their own to impart teaching methods for the welfare of children suffering here. Some innovative methods were tried, which included training the mother along with their children. The school which began with four hearing impaired children at their residence now has more than 100 students. <br /><br />In association with Rotary...<br /><br />In 1994, Rotary Club of Mysore West was inspired by the work of the Institute and joined hands with Parents’ Association of Deaf Children to start an organisation which is now called Rotary West and Parents’ Association for Mother and Deaf Children Trust. Thanks to the gesture of some philanthropists, a hostel with 26 sound-proof rooms were built for mothers who come here from across the country with a lot of hope. The main intention of the school is to impart speech-based education and not sign language, integrating them into the regular schooling system.<br /><br />Rathna B Shetty, president of the association, said early diagnosis of hearing impairment and starting training at the right time enables children to face the world like their counterparts in mainstream schools. <br /><br />Technological advancements such as good-quality hearing aids and cochlear implants have come as a boon for children with these problems. She also stressed the importance of regular monitoring of children and said mothers play an important role in helping children join the mainstream. The association is planning to construct an indoor auditorium and seeks contributions for hearing aids as many children belong to the lower strata of society and find it difficult to even meet the hostel’s nominal expenses.<br /><br />The parents are initially provided guidance about the goals that need to be met. </p>.<p>Appropriate fun activities are also chalked out for parents so they can involve children at home. These activities enhance communication skills and help children learn to use speech socially. Auditory learning aims at maximum use of audition rather than vision.</p>
