Helping CASSA
Comments from Partners for A Greater Voice, RE: CASSA
Centro Asistencia para Sordos San Andres (CASSA) emerged as one of many projects in the Dominican Republic and was supported for over nine years. It began in 2002 when Joanne met with 13 families in Boca Chica, working closely with local resident Estebania Concepcion. A parent group called Padres Unidos was started by Estebania and this eventually evolved into a school she registered in the name of Centro Asistencia para Sordos San Andres (CASSA) in 2005. Estebania collaborated with Diorka Nolasco, a parent of a child with profound hearing loss, after a Partners’ USA training program in 2003 and before Diorka took full control of the CASSA program in 2005.
In September of 2011 CASSA had enrolled more than 50 students ages 3 to 20. A morning oral program and an afternoon sign based/vocational program emerged to meet the needs of students. Over recent years, CASSA has sourced funds granted from within the country, and they now operating independently. Partners for A Greater Voice had over 14 teacher training missions to CASSA, and had their last of 5 audiology mission in September of 2011. Transfer of hearing health services to in-country audiology took place thereafter.
Partners is proud to have worked with CASSA over the years to see it to its current sustainable status. There were 23 visits to this community that occurred between 2002 and 2011, and which supported parents and teachers helping young children learn to listen and talk with hearing devices that Partners donated. Over 18 volunteers joined Partners in projects at CASSA that fostered CASSA’s independence and education for oral deaf children.
Grant money from the International Foundation, Quota International and Lions Club of Ipswich had significantly added value to Partners’ projects designated for CASSA and which totaled over $42,000. This did not include all the donations and volunteer contributions received between fiscal years 2004 and 2011. With limited funding, Partners fro A Greater Voice established CASSA and supported a healthy environment for families and children with hearing loss. Over the years, we provided counsel to staff, parent support, hearing and assistive technology, books and school supplies, teacher and parent education, training in auditory development, hearing health education, literacy training, lesson plan development, audiological services, and university scholarships to several teachers.
Partners for A Grater Voice encourages sustainability of al their projects, and recommends to CASSA the following actions:
- establishing CASSA as an official corporation and recognized by the Ministry of Education for establishing support;
- collaborating with both aural and sign language specialists to support a two separate programs (afternoon and morning);
- improving classroom lessons and teacher education;
- collaborating with other schools in the Dominican Republic to foster education for students, administration, and operations;
- shifting mindset of CASSA staff to be receptive to parent partnerships;
- encouraging on going parent meetings that inform, support, and value parent needs;
- inviting humanitarian audiologists whenever possible.
The school considers itself sustainable through the country’s Ministry of Education. The teachers and Parent Consultants PGV trained at CASSA and in San Andres will always be welcomed at Partners for A Greater Voice workshops.
