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.
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.