Equip deafblind children with skills for life!

Meet Jin*. He’s a 4-year-old boy who is in St. Nicholas’ Home’s Early Intervention Program. JIn suffers from Oculocutaneous Albinism and has been diagnosed with Autism. He also has low vision rendering him almost completely dependent on others since birth.

Jin is an only child who is currently living with his mother and father. He can understand instructions given to him and he interacts well with his family, as well as, other children his age. Like most 4-year-old boys, he’s very adventurous. He likes to explore his surrounding area often.

After being introduced to St. Nicholas’ Home a little over a year ago, the greatest improvement we’ve seen in Jin has been in his communication. He’s learning how to communicate best through repetition. He is also learning how communicate in multiple languages. His parents were encouraged to continue to speak to him in multiple languages to help further his development in communication.

Our hope for Jin is to continue to help develop his communication skills, enhance his cognitive skills, and ultimately push him to live more independently. We are also very encouraged by his parents who have taken a step towards Jin’s development by sending him to Prospect Rainbow, which offers support to children with disabilities.

(*not his real name)

Just as the alarm rings, I hear the same familiar sing song voice saying “Time to wake up!

The truth is, I have been lying awake for a short while now, listening to the patter of quiet steps moving around me. I know these footsteps well. They belong to the ‘house mother’. She is the one who takes care of the six of us who live and sleep in this room. Every day for the last 8 years I have heard them. These steps come towards me and a gentle, firm voice announces that it is morning and it’s time to get up. The steps then move away from me …. always with the same tempo and precision. I continue to listen because I know that within the next few minutes, I will hear Annie’s voice. And true enough, she calls out to me to say hello. She is always cheerful and I am the first person she greets every day. I miss her and the rest of my four room mates when their relatives take them home during holidays or for celebrations. I spend those times with my house mother and the staff at the Home.

I have a very acute sense of hearing. I recognise my room mates by the noises they make. For example, Teck Meng  is not a morning person and she tends to make a big fuss about getting up and going to the toilet!... It’s not that she does not wish to get up but she just has problems understanding why she is being carried out of bed. You see her limbs and her brain do not function as they should for a 7 year old. Then there is Kathy who is a jolly person. She screeches and laughs most times and she loves the water. I look forward to her cooing. It sounds like she’s wishing me a good morning.  Kathy tends to grab me and pull at my clothes often and that annoys me but I have learnt to smile it off. The bed to my right is occupied by Aminah. She has a low voice and makes distinct groans. I can tell she is a tall girl because her voice comes from above me.  Jane  sleeps to my left. She is always quiet. Since I am one of the older children, I lay quietly and wait my turn. I will get attended to soon enough.    

But…. Before I go on about my life, let me introduce myself to you. My name is Siti. I am the one who has the nice deep dimples when I smile… and I smile often.  I hear people saying that I look younger than my age. So here’s the thing. I look five but I am actually fourteen. How is that possible you ask? I assume it has to do with my growth hormone or something. I once heard a doctor utter a string of syndromes that he thought I have. My grandfather left me at this Home when he was not able to care for me anymore. I have not seen or heard from my mum in more than 10 years. Sadly, grandfather passed away three years ago. He used to visit me without fail. Every time he came to visit, I could tell that he was getting frailer by the day.  I miss him but I forget him too. So in some ways, my mind has made it easier for me to cope with memories of times gone by.

I do not know what people mean when they say, “see”. I can hear and I can feel but I cannot see. If the eyes are meant for seeing, then my eyes were made for the amazing pictures I conjure up in my mind. I do not know colours and I do not know what you mean when you say bright sunlight. I do know what it feels for the wind to blow through my hair when I sit on the swing and I enjoy the heat of the sun. I have my own ideas about the seeing world around me.

At the Home, I am kept busy. I am tasked with different things to do every day. I am taught to sing songs though my words don’t sounds the same as yours would. My house mother and care takers seem to understand me most times. I try and make an effort to get my message across though. All I know is that I have to be patient. I am not forgotten as there is always someone nearby attending to my needs. I really enjoy my sense of taste and I love my food. I get to eat simple and tasty food cooked with love at the Home. I am surrounded by love and care. I am happy.