PET-Uganda support the only schools with facilities to cater for children with hearing impairment in Kisoro district.
Deaf Unit
The primary deaf unit was PET’s first undertaking in 2003. The program supports 48 deaf primary students from all corners of Kisoro Districts. Due to late intervention with many of these students, the age range of these students is from 5 years – 22 years. The teachers in this unit are all proficient sign language users with bachelor’s degrees in Special Education.
This project supports all costs for caring and educating the children including: accommodation, food, medical care, scholastic materials, and resident support staff.
The secondary deaf unit is a new endeavor for PET. Once the original group of PET supported P1s finished primary school, the only options for deaf secondary education were private boarding schools located in the east of country. Due to concerns raised from parents about distances from home and inhibitory school fees, PET set up new program at a local secondary school, allowing the 7 students to continue their education in Kisoro. The program supports all costs for: boarding, food, resident support staff, and salary for two full time educational interpreters.
£300 or $450 USD would provide school fees, accomodation, interpreters, scholastic materials, school uniform and a nutritious diet for one deaf student to attend primary or secondary school for one year.