#AND THEN THERE WAS LIGHT FREE#

HKIDB follows the philosophy of total communication-oral, aural, manual, print, mime and dance that helps improve cognitive levels, thus enabling free modes of self-expression. By and large, HKIDB has a 1:1 teacher-student ratio. A deaf-blind child, due to the combination of hearing and visual handicaps, needs a specialised, individualised programme that will help him or her function better. The deaf and deaf-blind have differing degrees of both vision and hearing loss, that could be accompanied by other debilitating conditions such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy and seizures. Our students think, 'we can because we think we can'.'

Our belief that 'No one is incapable of being educated, loved and accepted with dignity it is the fundamental birthright of every child to be educated, loved and accepted with dignity' has served us over the years. Our strength comes from Helen Keller's legacy. Says Vacha, 'I believe that there is no dearth of goodness in this world. Most of the students come from the lower strata of society, but from families with a vision of their children having access to adequate educational facilities and happy futures.ĭr Helen Keller (1880-1968) who paved the way for educating the deaf and deaf-blind, was herself deaf-blind. HKIDB provides early education services for deaf-blind children, a school for older students, vocational training for rehabilitation and a teacher-training course. In 1979, they moved to the present municipal school at Byculla. At the time, services existed for the deaf and blind separately, but none were available for the deaf-blind. In 1977, founder Beroz Vacha and two other teachers-Diana Fernandes and Brinda Nanavati, started with just three students and a meagre Rs 150. Yet, he does not falter or hesitate while working on the computer.ĭhale is an assistant computer trainer at the Helen Keller Institute for Deaf and Deafblind (HKIDB), Mumbai, a pioneering institute in India and Asia in the education of the deaf-blind. Dhale cannot use the mouse, can't see the monitor and neither can he hear any instructions. 'I first came to the Helen Keller Institute for the Deaf and Deafblind when I was 12…'ĭoes this resemble a chat transcript? Actually, it is a written dialogue in MS Word, with Zamir Dhale, who is deaf-blind. After this novel exercise in palm printing follows an interactive session on the computer. They write the letters of the alphabet on your palm and tap your wrist to signal the end of each word. Their hands talk and are, in effect, their eyes. They gently feel your hands, your watch, the shape of your fingernails and the texture of your skin. The Bible truly illuminates our path to the father but we first must be willing to put down our flashlight and allow him to adjust our spiritual eyes to see in a new light that better than the one we have known.'A person who is severely handicapped never knows his own hidden source of strength until he is treated like a normal human being and allowed and supported to shape his own life-for life is either a challenge and an adventure or nothing at all.' We also become like a lighthouse to those stranded in that darkness and offer hope like a beacon of light in the midst of a storm. Gods word is alive with everything we need so we can see in the spiritual darkness that surrounds us and direct us to safety. In time our heart becomes more like his and we can see things never seen before as the holy spirit speaks to our heart and mind and can further direct us where to go and what to do when we arrive. As we come to trust in Jesus and follow in his footsteps our path becomes easier to see and we learn from the scriptures how we should live and treat others. Apart from God we are walking in the dark spiritually speaking and can only see a short distance in front of us. The same applies to this scripture in the Psalms. As your eyes adjust you can actually see things you could not with the flashlight as it is bright but only in a small focused area. For a moment panic sets in but if you wait a moment or two, your eyes will adjust to the dark and you will be able to see enough to continue most of the time depending on your circumstances.

Have you ever been walking somewhere at night with a flashlight and then suddenly the battery dies and the light goes out. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

And then there was light