Ok, I had my dinner and can now relate with full tummy my experiences/observations.
My husband went to Puerto Plata about three years ago on a missions trip. He is 90% hard of hearing. He reads lips and uses sign language and any other visual clues. I was not with him and I am the Spanish speaker.
Long story short, he left his hearing aids on the beach, in a bag (along with my Pentax, grrr.) It got lifted and suddenly he was in a silent world in new country.
Dominican people took to him kindly, wrote things down for him, spoke slowly so he could try and lip-read Spanish. End result, he felt very positive about the experience. He does not get that kind of courtesy in the States. Mostly because he does not wear a sign that says "I can't hear you." He fakes it pretty well--in fact he faked it so well as a kid, for a few years they thought he was "slow" (mom's words) and one day they figured he was deaf and in fact very, very bright! Then came the barrage of "what services, how do we teach him, what will serve him best". This is the US. Special ed, special services, Boy's Town. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from RIT. Thanks to persevering parents and the American mentality that has recently formed that people like Jason deserve an opportunity even if they achieve it differently than others.
Jason and I went to the DR together a year after his first trip (with new digitals in, he got to hear the birds singing that year). We made friends with a little deaf girl from Luperon. Her parents knew she was deaf but had not the money to seek any medical help. Through help from people on this board (bless you a million times over) we got her tested and she is deaf, deaf, deaf. We were able to teach her some sign language and gave her a lot of "work at home" materials...because in the second grade, they told her she could not keep going to school because the teachers couldn't teach her. Now you know and I know that she is perfectly teachable, it is just not the route that 99% of the kids take to learn.
While we were in Luperon we walked through the town and met the only other deaf man there. He was not working, could not communicate in sign, could not speak, and our hosts were clearly embarassed we spent a good 20 minutes trying to talk to him.
So, my husband in the US got years of speech therapy, a note-taker, an interpreter, and anything else he needed. His schooling was paid for through the state, all through college (vocational rehab.) He owns his own business and is a success by American dream standards.
Damalbi in Luperon left school in the second grade and her mother's hope for her is that she can find a decent vocation and not end up like the local deaf guy who wanders the streets.
My Dominican hosts in Puerto Plata think I am a little crazy to try and help this girl.
She is a valuable precious child who will grow up quickly and I want her to know that she can learn to be a rocket scientist if her heart desires. Or, if she just wants to do hair, as long as she is has self-esteem, that's what matters. her mother is very progressive and super supportive. The mom is one of the most amazing ladies I have met. Damalbi is her oldest and healthiest child. Everyone in the family loves Damalbi but very few members of her family/community see a future for her.
That's my 50 cents.