Amaliya Foundation launches Early Learning Centre for hearing impaired children

10 December 2015 03:04 am Views - 4546

The Amaliya Early Learning Centre is a new initiative by the Amaliya Foundation aimed at helping hearing impaired infants and young children to listen and acquire speech and language skills while learning readiness skills such as arithmetic, reading and writing.
The main aim of the Centre is to provide an opportunity for hearing impaired children in the age group 0- 5 years to learn and develop speech with our comprehensive early intervention program. The program helps children to make best use of their residual hearing though the constant use of suitable hearing aids or cochlear implants to develop age appropriate language skills. The curriculum prepares each child to enroll in a regular school at the age of 6 years. 
 The principal of the Centre Nisha Amalean having years of experience in dealing with a hearing impaired child,  explained that early intervention is crucial for hearing impaired children if they are to master speech and language. She said that neural plasticity of the brain which enables children to learn and develop easily is very active in a child during the ages 0 to 3 years. 
This way the child will develop at a reasonable pace and enable easy learning including age appropriate language and memory skills. Development in these skills will also help to prevent secondary disabilities like frustration and temper tantrums.
Amaliya ELC has a formulated an effective syllabus to teach hearing impaired children and the parents who are considered equal partners in the program. The methodology is named DHVANI - Development of Hearing, Voice and Natural Integration. It is an intensive language program that uses best practices in early childhood education to help infants and young children acquire age appropriate skills, language and speech. 
The teacher learning materials are sequential and activity based. They are designed to bring about a holistic development of the child›s personality at an early age which will be an invaluable investment for their future. Individual attention is given to children allowing them to reach their full potential intellectually, socially and emotionally. Children are allowed to develop at their own pace. Regular observation along with continuous assessments using the DHVANI KEYS provides a detailed picture of each student’s progress. 
DHVANI Teacher Learning Materials (TLMs) develop various skills in the children and ensure that they are able to compete with children in the mainstream. 
 The child friendly and learner centric DHVANI Methodology has been adapted to suit Sri Lanka and implemented with care by our team of qualified and committed teachers. 
Currently the centre offers English and Sinhala mediums. And the early learning centre is open for admissions throughout the year for hearing impaired children below the age of 2. The Centre which is located at 18 R. A. De Mel Mawatha has spacious sound treated class rooms, a well equipped library and child friendly play areas.  
Ajay Amalean, Chairman of the Foundation said, « a separate curriculum for hearing impaired children is important because,  while normal children and their parents walk through life, and learn by listening naturally, hearing impaired children and their parents will have to work twice as hard to maximize the advantage of the critical age ( 0-3 Years ) and the child’s residual hearing to have age appropriate learning by age 6”. 
The Amaliya Foundation is located at No 18 R. A. De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 5. For inquiries please call 0770 419284