A good Deed!

Chris

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Oct 21, 2002
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The lady who works for us as a cleaner has a daughter of around 9 years old who is deaf. Jacelin also cannot speak as a result of the deafness. The family has no resources as they are a rural family. The father works for our neighbor as a gardener.

As far as I can find out, the little girl has never been assessed in any way in order to find out the reason for her deafness. The difference between communication and not communicating for the rest of Jacelin's life, may be something as simple as a hearing aid, or sign language classes.

So, here are the questions:
1. Is there a facility in the DR that can assess the little girl?
2. Is there social assistance that can be found?
3. Is there a missionary or church group that actually are able to do what they say they do, i.e., to fill this need in some way?
4. Maybe there is a teacher that is able and willing to teach her and her immediate family sign language if this is necessary after an assessment of her problem?
5. Say we manage to get something set up for Jacelin, is there anyone in the US or Canada that would be willing to do some fundraising on that side to pay for this?
6. Can we in the DR pull together and do a few sponsored events to raise funds?
7. I know that most of us see people that want to move here or start business from time to time. Can we ask for $5.00 or $10.00 for our time and services as a donation to a fund for Jacelin?
I see in the threads recently that many people gave Tondra a helping hand when she came to visit. Tondra, would you have been willing to donate $5.00 or $10.00 as a thank-you? This is a retorical question at the moment Tondra, I just thought that your input would be helpful for now.
8. Can we convince the fearless leaders of DR1 to adopt her as the DR1 'special needs sponsored child' for a year? And raise funds for this through DR1 as the DR1 community?
9. Any other good ideas that you may have for assisting this little girl?

I'm willing to do any co-ordinating, writing, driving, a fund-raising website, progress reports, organization and so on that may be necessary. We are in Cabarete.

Any other comments and input from the long timers will be welcome. I'd like to ask for the positive type comment. I'm not a starry-eyed do-gooder. There is a real need here where a few good people pulling together can make a difference without disturbing the social fabric of the society. The family has not approached me for help in any way whatsoever. They are good and non-sophisticated and non-educated rural people. It is heart-breaking to see this bright-eyed little tyke not being able to communicate excepting with shouts, grunts and noises. Jacelin is a friendly little soul and frequently comes around to amuse herself playing with my granddaughter. She does not go to school at all.

This apparently hopeless situation is one of the saddest things I've ever seen.
 

FireGuy

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Aug 21, 2002
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Jacelin

Hi Chris,

Greetings from Atlantic Canada.

MaineGirl is involved with a deaf girl named Damalbi from Luperon. You might want to search for "deaf" and then PM her to get some input so you don't duplicate efforts.

There is also a poster, Rosanie, who posted a link to some pictures of a deaf school in Puerto Plata. Here is that link: http://www.worldisround.com/articles/14723/index.html

Speaking only for myself I would be more than pleased to make a contribution to a DR1 fund whenever I visit the D.R. as long as some mechanism were set up to ensure that it funded worthwhile project(s). As such I plan to make a donation to the Sosua Kid's Association http://www.geocities.com/sosuakids/ at the Britannia Pub when i am there in April.

Good luck in your efforts.

Gregg

Oops, sorry mainer, you're faster off the mark than I. I was composing while you were posting.
 

MaineGirl

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Jun 23, 2002
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Cris,

I'll be in Puerto PLata in April, picking up Damalbi and going to SD to have her assessed. She is 8, deaf, non-speaker, no sign. PM me--I would love to bring Jacelin along with me. It's a first come, first served type deal--we'd need to get in line at the School for the Deaf in Santo Domingo--but the cost is very cheap, subsidized by Rotary International. This is the assessment/treatment portion. The good news is that I have been in contact with the doctors who are coming to visit the school--turns out they are from MAINE, not only that but I am connected to them as they are my best friend's future in-laws....so I am hoping that we have smooth sailing when we get to SD.

Speech therapy, cued speech, signing--these are all resources that I have yet to encounter in the rural areas. I am bring down speech therapy materials for the school in Luperon. Go to www.superduperpublications.com and check out their bilingual materials--minus the DVD's, there's about $250 worth of useful materials, and I have just enough in the fund to purchase these materials and get bus tickets for Damalbi and her mom, as well as pay the (very cheap) fee for her assessment and hearing aids.

There is a deaf school in POP; I don't know a lot about it but it is worth PMing Rosanie, she has some contacts.

PM me, let's work together! :) :)

Amity aka The Maine Girl
 

Chris

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Oct 21, 2002
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Yes! Yes! Yes! Let's work together! I'll pm Maine Girl and Rosanie!

Fireguy, be assured that whatever we set up where I am involved, will be worthwhile to contribute to - totally transparent with all results auditible and publically posted. Would you volunteer to help us do this?

I have canvassed around my friends and contacts for $5.00 and $10.00 contributions and received quick promises of total $60.00 to contribute to "our" fund just this morning. These are real promises and Maine Girl, you can add this amount to 'our' fund.

Please don't stop your input because there are a few people doing something already. We need all the help and all the input we can get! How about sending a quick e-mail to all your own contacts, friends, family and loved ones for more $5.00 and $10.00 contributions? I'll keep the board updated and also post the names of contributors - inflow and outflow from the fund.

Christa
 

tondra

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Christa,

Let me know how to send the money as I do not have my next trip to the DR planned as yet. When I come next time, I plan to bring more medical supplies. Let me know if there is some specific need so I can bring appropriate materials if they are available.

Tondra
 

MaineGirl

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Jun 23, 2002
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There is a tax-deductible fund established for Damalbi, it is called Project Damalbi.

Anyone who wants to see pictures, check out www.xach.com/amity/drweb/damalbi. Mr. Cutie-pie signing is Mr. Mainegirl (?) How about we just call him DeafHottie :)

Anyway, if you see the pictures, this was Damalbi's first attempt at signing or communicating with established signs. She did have signs for her family members; her grandpa smoked, so when she wanted to go visit him, she signed smoking a cigarette. She also hated the fact that he smoked, so when she signed smoking, she always scowled and signed slitting her throat! Damalbi is very, very bright.

I also want everyone to see this picture: http://www.xach.com/amity/drweb/luperon/luperon-007-med.jpg
See Damalbi on the outside looking in? Welcome to the world of deaf people in a hearing world. I called the kids to take a picture, she was on the street and didn't hear me call. She came over after everyone had assembled and wanted to be included.

To contribute to this fund (which is used to pay for services, transportation, and educational materials) write to:

Project Damalbi
CFC Missions
21673 Beaumeade Circle
Ashburn, VA 20147

In the memo portion of your check write : PROJECT DAMALBI.

Looks like I will be connecting with Christa and Jacelin for the April trip. I have no problem with sharing the funds with Jacelin. This is what I have set up for contributors for now.

God knows where this will lead! :)

MG

ps. Tondra: flashcards in Spanish would be great, if you can find them, also check out www.superduperpublications.com for educational speech therapy materials in Spanish.
 

Hillbilly

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Jan 1, 2002
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Maine Girl: As you know my son saw Damalbi and i talked with some of her family. Until she is tested to see whether there is a connection between her ears and her brain, anything else you do is useless. If you are going to Santo Domingo to get a hearing test, why not pass thru Santiago and ppick up the results of her tests here>?? Now,, if in Santo Domingo they are going to administer the test i could not get her here, all is well and good.


Chris the answer,as you can see is YES to just about all of your questions. I can have my son do a pro bono exam to assess how much damage is done and then you can decide the further course of action. In some cases, there is no longer a connection between the ear and the brain, and thus, no way for the brain to process sound. IF there is a connection, then there are many courses of action. This has to be done step by step...as I found out in Damalbi's case.

HB
 

BushBaby

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Chris,
Great to see what a quick discussion over lunch can bring!! Now for the other ideas we discussed!!!

One word of ewarning for all those who wish to contribute though - PLEASE do it by secure mail as mail in the DR still DOES get opened if it looks as though it might have something interesting inside. I received a fairly impressively sized document (& booklets) from the Pension establishment in UK this morning & it had been opened!! They didn't get anything obviously, it was just a claims form & information on my pension contributions BUT ....... !!

Put me down for a few bob too Chris!! - Grahame.
 

MaineGirl

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Jun 23, 2002
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HB,

I emailed the doctors again to make double sure they can perform the tests necessary, and asked if they wanted to see the test results. When I spoke with Nana (Danibal, Damalby's mom) today she said you had been so kind as to help them in Santiago but that the resources weren't available for what she needed. She did say you were an awful nice guy, though :)

Chris,

I emailed the doctors about Jacelin and hopefully will hear back from them today or tomorrow with a "bring her along!"

MG
 

Chris

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Oct 21, 2002
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Maine Girl has the tax deductible fund established, and I repeat the details.

Project Damalbi
CFC Missions
21673 Beaumeade Circle
Ashburn, VA 20147

In the memo portion of your check write : PROJECT DAMALBI.

For contributions, let us use this fund please. Please do NOT send money to the DR! It will get lost. Use the fund so, this way, we can track donations and also track who so kindly offered to help.

Thanks BushBaby! Thanks Tondra! Thanks Hillbilly for the information. I'll be in touch via pm to find out the details of this kind offer. Mostly what I think we need now at this stage for Jacelin, is a thorough assessment.

With MaineGirl and myself working together on this, we will make progress and I will report the progress back to the board.

I echo MainGirl - Who knows where this will lead!

Grahame! I'm all over the other stuff. Will send you some e-mail soon!

Now for the rest of the DR1 regulars! Where are you?
 

La Profesora

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Jun 23, 2002
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Hi, just this week a group of tourists came into Puerto Plata to set up a fund for another deaf girl who has already been tested and who needs a hearing aid. There is a doctor in Santiago who can do the work; at least the men had a letter and copy of an audiogram for this little girl. I will see if I can obtain the doctor's name and address on Monday.
 

Chris

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Oct 21, 2002
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Thanks La Profesora - I would appreciate any information you can give us about this effort.

General Feedback - MaineGirl and I are talking about what the best way is to combine efforts. I'll be looking at the website set up for project Damalbi and adding more content to this site.

We've had a very kind offer for a pro-bono assessment for Jacelin and we'll do this in March. I've spoken to Jacelin's parents and they are a little overwhelmed.

Pledges for small contributions from friends and family are still coming in. I've not yet had a free moment to add up where the fund stands now but will do so at the first available opportunity.

Thanks All!
 

MaineGirl

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donde hay vision...

Deaf kids in rural DR have a real need for resources. As I learned this weekend, relying on overseas missions to meet the need can be unrealistic. It's like the old saying, give a man to fish and he is full for a day, teach him to fish and he is never hungry again. Short-term visits to supply hearing aids are like giving fish, training people in the country and having the right equipment are like teaching people to fish.

HB has said that a machine to test for auditory neurology would be beneficial to his son's work. It would be nice raise funds for a juvenile audiological clinic to get started. If he doesn't mind me lauding his family, I will say that he and his son, a specialist in the field, have done everything they can to help Damalbi and now Jacelin.

His son shouldn't be in this alone. Fundraising could go as far as raising money to train other audiologists and speech pathologists in return for hours in the clinic. And how nice would it be to have something mobile to go to real rural communities?

I am not sure why there aren't more people in these professions in the DR. I think in part it is because of the perception of hearing loss in the culture. Our own American culture has come a long way in recognizing that hearing loss is an impairment, not a low IQ, and that deaf people can contribute many positive things to a community.

Audiology and speech therapy are in the top 10 careers in terms of growth in this country (US). Every educational job board I frequent has open positions weekly.

If we can raise the awareness of the need for deaf education in the DR--I hesitate to say "special education" but perhaps that's what it is--we can teach communities with deaf kids how to be more effective. Hearing aids are an extremely short-term solution--let me tell you, in some cases hearing aids (like my husband's) are not a cure-all but just an aid. He relies so heavily on lip-reading to communicate, and this he had to be taught!

We now have two DR girls, young, bright, with definite needs and connections to people on the board.

If anyone has any ideas to add to this, please share.
 

socuban

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one man's junk......

Last week I cleaned my car and office and put some of the "junk" collecting dust on ebay. I'll probably get a buck fifty or so for the stuff. Found money, I probably would have spent it on over-priced meals or drinks somewhere. I'll feel more satisfied contributing it to your worthy cause.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people can be. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "It was great, Dad." "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Oh Yeah" said the son. "So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our
property to protect us, they have friends to protect them." With this the boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks dad for showing me how poor we are." Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don't have. What is one person's worthless object is another's prize possession. It is all based on one's perspective. Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for all the bounty we have, instead of worrying about wanting more. Take joy in all you have, especially your friends.
 
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Chris

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Oct 21, 2002
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It is high time that we post an update to this thread.

The good news for the day is that Jacelin (whose name I learnt later through Hillbilly's good efforts, is spelt Jaquelin) is going to the Puerto Plata School for the deaf, when school re-opens in September. Today at the school we heard she was accepted, pending a medical certificate, two pictures and a birth certificate - What a pleasure!.

I said before in the thread that I am no starry-eyed do-gooder, but most of my morning at the school, was spent with tears in my eyes - eventually I did not even bother to mop the copious waterworks off my cheeks. The reason for the waterworks is simple - These folks at the POP School for the deaf do so much with so little.

I'll get to the sequence of historical events in a minute - to start, there are a few thank-you's due - Firstly to Hillbilly, who arranged for Jaquelin's first assessment at no charge, at a specialist, and on the day, treated myself and Richard to Port and Cigars! You are a scholar and a gentleman Sir! Secondly to family and friends that pitched in and gave what they could to start a fund for Jaquelin. Thirdly to newfound friends who contacted me and donated money to the fund to get it kicked off. There is so much to be thankful for - a forum member who brought Jaquelin a soft toy with hand-knitted clothes (still hidden in my closet as I want to give this to her to hold for her first day at school) plus a generous donation. Another poster who generously donated to the fund and wanted to remain anonymous. Another frequent poster who, over a few beers, simply dug into his wallet and generously gave. Another poster who promised to round off the fund to a nice round amount if MaineGirl and I got our organization sorted in a way that uses the money to best advantage - as well as a lot of financial advice.

OK, short sequence of events:
April - Jaquelin tested and found that the physical pieces for hearing is not in place.
End April - MaineGirl and I agree on a layout for our website - now we just have to get the content together.
Beginning May - Contact a wonderful person involved in the Rotary and in the POP school for the deaf to start arranging things at the school.
End May - Jaquelin accepted and The Big Day of Crying for Christa and Mama and Papa! These are simple but good folks! Jaquelin's parents arranging with familia to let her stay during the week and arranging for transport home and back for weekends.

Remaining to be done in no particular order of importance:
Get content onto the website.
Do financial structuring of the fund - Our Girls - Jaquelin and Damalbi are going to college! (In my mind at this stage but one has to build the dream y'know!)
Buy school clothes for Jaquelin.
Arrange for the 2nd test that she needs, which we found out today can be done in SD for 1,200 pesos.

I know this is a long post, but it is not complete without a mention about the school - 3 classes currently with approximately eight to ten kids in a class. The place erupted today with kids happily waving us into classrooms, getting chairs for us and just simply enjoying the visit - showing off their abilities. Happiness all around and Richard clicking his 'take-photo' button at double speed. The Rotary is doing a lot for the school. The small playground was built, painted and set up by 'old' rotarians, all five of them around 60 years of age. Five new classrooms built and planned for vocational training - beauty, woodwork, computers, pottery and sewing - but not equipped yet. The school director, Clara, is totally professional, efficient and also probably the warmest and most welcoming person that I've met in my life.

The project is young and the general feeling of the place is small, cosy, friendly, happy kids, felt like good things are being done there. The focus is on giving the deaf kids skillsets to support themselves and live a normal life. They've been in action for two years only, and with the help of rotary, has 8 classrooms, 1 office, happy playground and 1 small kitchen.
 

Tony Cabrera

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Deed!

In reference to donate money why not set up some kind of account within the DR1 forums so we could send it direct to DR1
for a good cause such as this. I am willing to help but everybody
know our mail system is not that reliable. (I hope Bob could tell
me something about this).
 

Chris

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Oct 21, 2002
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Tony, stand by - we'll let you know soonest what we've set up in the DR in Puerto Plata - it is in process.

I wonder if it is possible to make a 'drop-off' point in each of the major cities?

I can cover Cabarete/Sosua, I'm sure Grahame will do this for us in Puerto Plata - but I should ask him first.

Anybody volunteering for being a drop-off point in Santiago and in Santo Domingo? It takes very little time and you meet great people.

I've neglected to thank one other person - Pib, who kindly offered that we can link the website to her site.