Monitoring & evaluation visit to Deafchild India Centre, Chennai (formerly Madras) Southern India, 22nd - 27th February 2001

Deafchild India - part of the Deafax's overseas work - was visited by the UK team.

22nd February

Visited Dr MGR School for Speech & Hearing-Impaired Children (Chennai) which is the Deafchild India's first Centre. Met Mrs Latha Rajendran, Headmistress, whose 8th class [grade] practised their skills in literacy and communication at a distance by fax.

Then on to St Louise School for the Deaf & Blind, also in Chennai: Deafchild India's second Centre, meeting Brother Joseph, Director of the School.

23rd February 2001

Went to the Village of Trichy to visit the third Deafchild India Centre, established at Holy Cross Service Society. Holy Cross is equipped with 3 PCs (personal computers), is directed by Brother Joseph.

A pupil practises IT skills on a PC

Later, went on to visit an integrated pre-school situated in the village of Keeranoor, where 3 deaf children are intergrated with learning support from helpers.

Saw at first-hand the classroom activities of 12 deaf pupils integrated at Bhagayamatha Middle School,

24th February

Deafchild India convened a meeting of deaf students and their parents were given a presentation about Deafax, its Deafchild International work, the Deafchild India project and work with deaf children, their parents and teachers in other countries. Mr Subbarayan, father of a deaf daughter, made a speech analysing the current state of deaf education in India.

Gathering of students and parents

26th February

Attended meetings with the Deafchild India Advisory Committee - Prof Prabhaker, Dr PS Balasuramaniam and Mr Paul Wiebe, as well as the Deafchild India Survey Team - Prof Parbhaker, Mrs Leela Angel, Dr WAF Hooper, Mr Chadrasekaran and Mrs Sue Stillman (Acting Director of Deafchild India). Followed by a meeting with Heads of Schools to discuss the educational/curricular and technological needs of schools.

27th February

Visit to Little Flower Convent for the Blind and Deaf.

Teaching in the classroom