Society for the Welfare of the Deaf

• We provide parents with appropriate advice to ensure early intervention for hearing-impaired children.
• Our specialised education includes pre-primary, primary, and pre-vocational education at the Beau-Bassin Centre, with satellite classes in Goodlands (in a public school with a section for disabled students) and Riambel (in a school for disabled students).
• We conduct audiometric examinations to determine the degree of hearing loss and provide appropriate hearing aids.
• Our Centre manufactures custom earmolds in its laboratory and offers repair and maintenance services for hearing aids.
• We acquire specific equipment for specialised education and offer speech therapy services.
• Our pre-vocational training is designed for young adults with hearing impairments.
• We provide psychological services through a psychologist at the school for the deaf to promote the comprehensive rehabilitation of deaf children.
• We train teachers for specialised education and technicians for hearing aid maintenance.
• Our transport service offers door-to-door transport for young deaf children.
• We provide a library and audio-visual centre to facilitate learning.
• We organise sports activities for children.

Founded in February 1965 and enacted under Ordinance No. 37 on July 5, 1968, the Society for the Welfare of the Deaf was established to address the urgent needs of the hearing-impaired community. In the late sixties, there was a significant lack of medical assistance and special education for individuals with hearing impairments. At the request of the Ministry of Social Security, a provisional committee was formed to initiate preliminary activities aimed at promoting the welfare of the hearing impaired and combating their social exclusion.

On July 5, 1968, the Society for the Welfare of the Deaf was officially enacted under Parliament Act No. 37, with the following objectives:

• To aid, train, and educate all deaf persons in Mauritius
• To assist them in obtaining medical treatment and suitable employment
• To grant them any material relief they may need
• To erect, open, and manage training centres, schools, and hostels as necessary

The Society has consistently endeavoured to fight against the exclusion of the hearing impaired, especially children. Over the years, the Society has expanded its efforts in the rehabilitation of the hearing impaired, increasing the services offered to this community. The premises at Pope Hennessy Street, Beau Bassin, which initially started as a school, have been transformed into a centre offering specialised services for the hearing impaired. This facility has been renamed the Jomadar Centre for the Hearing Impaired. In an effort to alleviate poverty, all services are provided free of charge to the hearing-impaired pupils.

• To aid, educate, and train hearing-impaired individuals in Mauritius to the best of our abilities.
• To help hearing-impaired individuals receive medical care and find suitable employment.
• To construct and manage schools, centres, or other necessary facilities as deemed essential by the Association.
• To manage and disseminate all information considered useful and necessary to alleviate and prevent deafness.

Our mission is to safeguard the fundamental rights of the hearing impaired and ensure their integration into society through specialised education and support services.

Our vision is to be the platform for support and exchange for hearing-impaired individuals from birth and throughout their lives.

• Diagnosis and rehabilitation through audiometry and speech therapy
• Provision of hearing aids
• Manufacturing custom hearing aid earmolds
• Establishment of a workshop for the repair and maintenance of hearing aids
• Specialised education for the hearing impaired
• Education in information technology
• Physical education and sports activities
• Development of Mauritian Sign Language
• Decentralisation of education through satellite classrooms
• Establishment of a library for students
• Technical training for improved earmold manufacturing
• Training of a technician in "Hearing Aid Acoustics" to handle high-tech hearing aid fittings
• Recruitment of a speech therapist
• Recruitment of a psychologist
• Implementation of pre-vocational training programmes

The association receives annual contributions from the government for administrative needs. It also relies on donations from our annual fundraising drive, philanthropic organisations, firms, and individuals to support the development of our various activities and services.

Number of Beneficiaries:

• 115 deaf children
• 27 students in secondary vocational education (since 2010)
• 75 young deaf adults
• 3,000 other hearing-impaired individuals for hearing aid services