Speeches

Remarks by Chargé d'Affaires, a.i., Stephen Schwartz,
at The Society for the Welfare of the Deaf

Friday, September 29, 2006
Society for the Welfare of the Deaf

Raouf Bundhun, Vice President

Ms. Arrtee Bissoonauthsing, Executive Officer of the Society for the Society for the Welfare of the Deaf

Mr. Nazir Soobratty, Chairman, National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons

Mr. Ramesh Chandra Gopee Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity, Senior Citizens Welfare and Reform Institutions

Mr. Swaminathen Ragen, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Resources

Professor V. Hookoomsing, Chairman of the Mauritius Sign Language Steering Committee.

Members of the press and media

Honored Guests

Thank you for having me here today to formally present equipment for the upgrading of the ear mould lab here at the Society for the Welfare of the Deaf. This lab, which is the only ear mould lab in Mauritius, has helped improve the lives of thousands of hearing impaired Mauritians since it became operational in 1988.   

Deaf Awareness Week is an opportune time to raise public awareness of the challenges and special needs of the hearing impaired.   More importantly, it is a time to publicize and promote the abilities for the hearing impaired.  Indeed, the president of America’s oldest university for the deaf, Gallaudet University in Washington DC has said, "Deaf people can do anything except hear."  I am confident that with continued community and government support, the Society for the Welfare of the Deaf will be able to instill that message to the deaf and hearing community alike. 

The U.S. Government and people are pleased to be able to support the educational programs and support services that are available to the hearing-impaired here at the Society for the Welfare of the Deaf.   I am impressed by the diversity of services and the commitment of the staff at the Society.

Over the years, the U.S. Embassy Ambassador’s Special Self Help Program has granted the Society for the Welfare of the Deaf over four thousand dollars to assist the hearing impaired community.  Our grants funded computer equipment in 1992 and hearing aids in 1995.

This year’s grant helped fund tools and equipment to upgrade the ear mould lab to create custom hearing assistance devices.  I hope that this project will enable hearing-impaired young children attend school and integrate into society. 

 On that note, I would like to present to the Society of the Welfare of the Deaf, the U.S. Embassy donation of equipment to upgrade the ear mould lab.