A support system to help hearing-impaired children integrate into the community.

As a non-governmental social assistance facility, Thanh An Social Work Center (Ha Tu Ward) has been implementing many practical activities to support children with disabilities, especially hearing-impaired children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The center's efforts not only provide these children with opportunities for education but also help them gradually integrate into the community and become independent in life.

Thanh An Social Work Center (Ha Tu Ward) will organize a communication skills training course for visually impaired students at the Center in April 2025.

Officially operational since 2023, Thanh An Social Work Center specializes in supporting and educating hearing-impaired children and children with developmental disorders in many localities within and outside the province. Ms. Vu Thi Lan, Director of the Center, stated: Hearing impairment in children is often caused by various factors such as mothers contracting Rubella during pregnancy, using strong antibiotics, or exposure to stimulants like alcohol, tobacco, and drugs... From its inception, the center has focused on supporting this group of children, as they require long-term intervention and support.

The center currently offers an 8-year primary school program for hearing-impaired children, with the first six years covering grades 1 to 3, and the following two years covering grades 4 and 5. The teaching staff includes preschool teachers, primary school teachers, and social work professionals, all of whom are well-trained and possess pedagogical skills tailored to the specific needs of hearing-impaired children. Teaching requires patience, dedication, and flexible methods to help the children effectively absorb knowledge. In addition to the academic curriculum, the children also receive life skills training to enhance their independence and social integration.

Currently, the center is caring for approximately 30 hearing-impaired children aged 14 to 18. In addition to academic studies, they receive vocational training to prepare them for the future. Many have become proficient in skills such as hairdressing, beverage preparation, massage, and nail art. The center has provided completely free education and living expenses for 5 children with particularly difficult circumstances, and continues to provide free support to 2 of them.

Visually impaired students prepare drinks at the Thanh An Social Work Center.

For children who have completed primary school and wish to continue their education at higher levels, the center will introduce and support their transfer to specialized schools in Hanoi . Those who choose vocational training will receive guidance on selecting fields suitable to their health and abilities, such as laundry, hair washing, bartending, and acupressure. To date, the center has trained 10 children proficient in hair washing, 5 in massage and acupressure, 10 in bartending, and 2 in nail services.

According to Ms. Vu Thi Lan, the center is currently developing a vocational training and on-site employment program for hearing-impaired children, particularly focusing on industrial laundry services. The integrated model is implemented using a "hands-on" approach, from general education to vocational training, followed by employment at the center. The goal is to help the children secure stable employment and income, enabling them to support themselves and integrate into society sustainably.

Beyond providing educational and vocational training support for hearing-impaired children, the Thanh An Social Work Center also cares for and intervenes early in the lives of children with developmental disorders – a group of children who experience difficulties in attention, memory, language, cognition, and social interaction. Annually, the center organizes free screenings with the participation of specialists and doctors to detect early signs of abnormalities and provide timely intervention solutions, helping children develop stably.

Currently, the center collaborates with the Provincial Association for the Protection of People with Disabilities and Orphans to mobilize social resources, appealing to philanthropists to donate machinery, equipment, and tools to support vocational training. After completing the training program, the students will be evaluated and awarded vocational certificates according to legal regulations, opening up greater opportunities for them to confidently enter life.

Duong Truong

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/diem-tua-giup-tre-khiem-thinh-hoa-nhap-cong-dong-3364834.html