Al-Bireh – Despite the grim and complex COVID-19 situation, PRCS has continued to pay special attention to people with hearing impairments. Numerous activities were, for example, carried out by its Total Communication School for the hearing-impaired which was created in 1993. They included a wide array of initiatives aimed at raising awareness about COVID-19, such as the production of educational spots and material for the hearing-impaired and the public at large.
According to Asmahan Asfour, sign-language interpreter at PRCS Total Communication School, “a lot of this material was accompanied by sign language interpretation and was widely disseminated, including via the Society’s Facebook page and TV channels. This material provided information on COVID-19, its prevention and psychological impact on individuals. For example, a spot developed by PRCS at the beginning of the pandemic was broadcast on Palestine TV with sign language interpretation, reflecting the importance given by the Society to this group. The spots, which targeted children and young people, contained essential information and advice relating to the pandemic. The number of spots and material interpreted into sign language and made available on the Society’s Facebook page has increased considerably as a result of the pandemic and due to our great sense of social responsibility”.
PRCS also cooperated with other institutions, such as Al Quds Educational TV, to deliver remote learning lessons interpreted into sign language to high school students sitting the national Tawjihi exams. It also provided 350 hearing-impaired children from Ramallah and Al-Bireh, Salfit and Jerusalem with batteries for their hearing-aids during the lockdown. Toys were distributed to hearing-impaired children and their hearing peers as well as to children with intellectual disabilities.
Through Its alumni association set up nine years ago, the Total Communication School provided many services over the past few months. “Activities were carried out and lectures offered online. Distance learning was also provided by the school to its 75 students via the creation of learning groups. Parents took an active role in their children’s education and made sure their homework was done on time. Despite all difficulties, we managed to have all hearing-impaired students sit their mock Tawjihi exams remotely. The Covid-19 crisis has brought students, parents and school staff closer together. This was a great achievement especially given that they couldn’t meet face to face”, she said.
“PRCS interventions do not only target Total Communication school students and its 80 alumni: they target people with hearing-impairments throughout Palestine. PRCS is keen on building partnerships with other relevant institutions to accompany graduates and offer them better opportunities. This is why we provide them with sign language interpreters and why we prepare and train sign language interpreters. Eight of the interpreters we trained have already been hired by the Palestinian Civil Service Commission”, Asfour added.
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