Outreach
In 2010 about 300 children with hear and speech impairments participated in the outreach programs. The network of 6 specialized institutions already reached thousands of children with various disabilities. The service needs greater financial resources and more personnel for the planned expansion that is required to help meet the needs that are visible throughout the country.
Jofeh Center
In Jofeh (a village in the Jordan valley near the Dead Sea) the outreach programme developed integrated education in regular schools, a community centre for the rehabilitation and care of children and young people with disabilities, and a vocational training and employment component. Visit the website at: http://www.er-d.org/jofeh_center
A second and similar center is being established in Kreimeh, a village 63 km. further north. In the future we hope to be able to establish more of these programs and centers in the Jordan Valley.
What does the outreach programme do?
The outreach programme of the institute comprises a number of programmes:
- Outreach (integrated education in regular schools)
- CBR or Community-Based Rehabilitation and Education
- Training of technicians and teachers
Integrated education is offered in regular village and neighbourhood schools, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. The institute provides training of local teachers and technical support with educational materials and hearing aids.
CBR
CBR services try to make use of local services such as clinics, hospitals, schools and factories, local businesses and other resources. In order to encourage the integration of disabled children to the greatest possible extent, volunteers and co-workers of the concerned official and public as well as private organizations receive training in order to contribute and make their services available. Though the institute’s Outreach programme has a focus on deaf children, it also co-ordinates a network of other organizations specialized in various disabilities that provides a comprehensive set of services to all children with disabilities on a number of locations in the Kingdom of Jordan.
Training
Rehabilitation and educational programs that are supervised by the outreach programme often make use of volunteers who are trained by specialists.