Thematic Areas
We support organizations that promote literacy, learning and poverty eradication, Child & Rural Education, Disability, Orphans and ICT.
HUMANITARIAN DONATIONS
We conduct research and solicit for humanitarian donations such as new or used computers, new or used clothing’s, new and used wheelchairs, crutches, walking aids, hearing aids, artificial limbs, shoes and blankets among others.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
The foundation recognizes that the needs of these children cannot be satisfied by this organization alone. We therefore seek to establish partnership with those whose agenda overlaps with ours in order to build and achieve effective and efficient collaboration.
COMMUNITY BASED
Our developmental work is based on the children at the grassroots level. We seek to ensure that the children with whom we work achieve better satisfaction. We are guided by the discerning views of the community in which we work.
FORMS OF DISABILITIES
LEARNING DISABILITIES
Specific leaning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological process involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think speak, read write, spell or to do mathematical calculations. The term includes such condition as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia and developmental aphasia.
CAUSES
Mental retardation is caused by:
- Generic defects parental influences (disease, trauma, etc.)
- Prenatal influences ( birth injuries, premature birth)
- Postnatal factors (disease, environmental deprivation, trauma, poising etc.)
Possible signs of learning disabilities
- Significant discrepancy between potential and academic achievement
- Distractibility or inability to pay attention for as long as peers do
- Immature social skills
- Inability to problems
- Disorganized approach to learning
- Over reliance on teacher and peers for class assignments
- Evidence of poor language and/or cognitive development
- Poor motor coordination and spatial relation skills
- Impulsiveness
- Hyperactive behavior, exhibited through excessive movement
Misconception
Mental retardation is not synonymous with mental illness and should not be confused with mental illness.
HINTS
When working with mentally retarded persons, the following principles should be used
- Individualization Gear activities lessons to the level of the individual
- Simplicity Give simple and concise instructions. Complex commands will be confusing for the retarded person.
- Examples Use concrete examples. Abstract instruction should be avoided
- Repetition For maximum retention of a concept, use repetition. Repetition aids in impressing facts and ideas upon the brain
- Brevity Plan activities for a shortened attention span.
- Touch Communicate love and approval through hugs and pats.
- Firmness Be firm and loving. Retarded often needs to be encouraged to participate in activities
- Inputs Use a multisensory approach to teaching whenever possible, including the senses of hearing, vision and touch.
- Encouragement Allow retarded individuals to do things for themselves as much as possible
HEARING IMPAIRMENT
DEFINITION
The conference of exertive of the American schools for the deaf has defined deaf people as “those who do not have sufficient residual hearing to enable them to understand speech successfully, even with a hearing aid.”
Causes
Hearing impairments are caused from:
- Birth defects
- Disease
- Trauma (accidents)
Classifications
- Deafness: total loss of the auditory sense
- Hard of hearing: partial loss of the auditory sense
- Congenital deafness: occurring at birth
- Adventitious deafness: occurring some time after birth
Misconceptions
There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding those with hearing impairments. It must be emphasized that deaf persons are not:
- Mentally retarded Hearing-impaired persons have normal intellectual capacities; however, they may lag behind hearing people in academic matters because of the language barrier.
- Unlovable Hearing-impaired individuals are capable of expressing love; however, they are sometimes bitter or may lack self-esteem and, because of this, may appear to be aloof. Therefore it is important that we surround then with agape – God’s kind of unconditional love.
- Unfriendly Those with hearing impairments tend to congregate with others like themselves; therefore, they may appear unfriendly. But if we take the initiative in demonstrating a genuine interest in then, they will feel more inclined to associate with a larger group.
- Physical disabled The hearing impaired do not always have physical disabilities; however they may suffer from poor balance because of defects in the inner ear.
DON’TS
When working with the hearing impaired, it is important that you consider the following suggestion
DON’T…………..:
- Use the phrase “deaf mute”, “deaf and dumb”, or “deaffie”. The correct terminology is: deaf”, hard of hearing”, or hearing impaired.”
- Yell or shout
- Cover your face with your hands or object when conversing. Hearing-impaired persons often read lips of facial expressions as a clue to your conversation.
- Use baby talk
- Talk too rapidly
- Hold hands while praying
- Tell jokes that exclude the hearing impaired. They may feel that the laughter is directed to them
- Pretend to understand when something is unclear
- Correct their English, unless help is requested
HINTS
The following hints will enable you to minister more effectively to the hearing impaired:
- Bring When you expect to be associating with hearing impaired people, bring along a small notepad and pencil so that any questions or comments may be written
- Relate Treat a deaf person as you would a person with normal hearing. Focus on common attitudes, desires, and interest. Emphasis the similarities between you rather than the differences
- Speak When conversing with a deaf person, address him or her directly. Do not Talk to he interpreter
- Look Maintain eye contact with the person with whom you are conversing
- Wave or tap Use a gentle tap on the shoulder or wave your hand to get a deaf person’s attention.
- Approach Face the person and speak slowly, but b=not in an exaggerated manner
- Sign Learn the art of signing. Many deaf persons rely on this method when communicating with others
- Visualize Use visual means as much as possible when teaching the hearing impaired
- Involve Use drama, puppetry, group discussion, and other techniques that encourage group participation.
PHYSICAL DISABILITES
DESCRIPTION
Definition
Physical disability results from a neurological impaired (such as cerebral palsy or epilepsy), an orthopedic impairment.
Causes
Physical handicaps result from:
- Birth defects
- Disease
- Accidents
Misconceptions
Note only do the physically disabled have to endure the pain and discomfort of their illness or ailment, but they must also deal with many popular misconceptions.
It is necessary to emphasis that the physical disabled are not:
- Mentally retarded Although some suffer the dual problems of physical disability and mental retardation, the majority have perfectly normal intelligence.
- Emotionally unstable The physically disabled have the same emotional needs of those who do not suffer physical affliction.
DON’TS
When working with physically disabled person, it is important that you consider the following suggestions:
DON’T:
- Pity them Uninformed people often pity those with disabilities. The disabled population needs love, understanding, friendship, and encouragement - not pity
- Do everything for them encourage a sense of self-sufficiency in disabled persons by letting them do as much as possible for themselves.
- Ignore them always acknowledge the presences of the disabled person. Attempt to include him or her in your conversation
- be afraid to talk though communication with a disabled person is sometimes difficult, demonstrating the love of God through friendly concerns will overcome all obstacles
- be afraid to touch the sense of touch – a pat on the back a handshake, a warm hug – speaks volumes and assures the physically disabled that you do not consider them ‘untouchable”.
Be afraid to correct when working with young people, you can expect the same behavior from disabled persons as from other group of the same age. Firm and loving discipline will let them know that you do not see their “differences “
Visual impairment
Definition
A person is said to be legally blind if his or her central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses, or the visual field is less than an angle of twenty degrees. In simpler terms, a person is considered legally blind if he or she can see no more at a distance of twenty feet than someone with normal vision can see at a distance of two hundred feet.
Causes
Glaucoma
River Blindness (onchocerciasis, spread by black fly)
Cataract
Diabetes
Gonorrhea (a venereal disease communicated from the mother to the infant’s eyes at birth.
Measles
Eye injuries
Classification.
Visual impairments are divided into two categories:
1. No Sight - No optic impulses received by brain.
2. Partial sight-Partial-sight symptoms.
Blurry Vision-Vision of 20/200 or Worse
Spotty Vision-Caused by Scars on retina
Night blindness –A condition in which an individual cannot see in the night or in a faint light.
Tunnel vision-peripheral vision limited to 20 degrees or less
Possible Signs of Visual impairment
Eyes water excessively
Eyes are crusty in appearance
Eyes look dull, wrinkled, or cloudy
Difficulty reading small prints
Child has difficulty identifying details in pictures
Child has difficulty seeing after sun sets (night blindness)
Child rubs eyes often
Child bumps into or trips over things
Child often tilts head
Child uses one eye, possibly shutting or covering the other eye when reading.
NEEDS
Listed below are some of the special needs of visual impaired persons:
Tapes
Large Print
Braille
Typewriters
Braille Slate
Large –print hymnals
Braille papers
White cane
