TTAHI Calls For Improved Education Access For Hearing Impaired Students In Tobago #TTTLiveOnline

TTAHI Calls For Improved Education Access For Hearing Impaired Students In Tobago
The Trinidad and Tobago Association for the Hearing Impaired (TTAHI) recently held a retreat in Tobago where focus was placed on better serving the community.

One of their engagements was with members of the Executive Council of the Tobago House of Assembly.

TTAHI Committee Chair and Board Director Nicole Maloney pointed out that education access for hearing-impaired students is lacking in Tobago.

“In Trinidad, our deaf and hard of hearing population reaches tertiary: Master, PhD, all of the levels. In Tobago, they are not even given the opportunity to write SEA exams.”

TTAHI proposed allowing some of their special education teachers to work in Tobago.

This was welcomed by THA Secretary of Education, Skills and Innovation Orlando Kerr, who noted a severe shortage of trained teachers on the island to support the hearing impaired.

“I have been having conversations with my administrator so that we will, sometime very soon, offer incentives for teachers outside of Tobago to come to the island.”

Secretary Kerr also revealed that he is working on ways to improve the Student Support Unit within the Division to better cater to special needs students.

Ms. Maloney said another issue for the TTAHI is an apparent lack of data sharing.

“When we look at our listing, we are seeing children that have been to DRETCHI in Tobago and trying to tag them is an issue, so we can’t really reach them.”

Secretary of Health and Wellness Dr. Faith Brebnor admitted that health services in Tobago do shoulder some blame. Due to a lack of specialists, when hearing impairments are detected, they are immediately referred to Trinidad.

“We could see why it is a challenge, and it is actually one of the reasons why we insisted on paying for those hearing services, for the screening, for the assessment, for the hearing aid maintenance for that to happen in Tobago.”

Dr. Brebnor suggested establishing a Memorandum of Understanding as a guide to ensure data is shared efficiently between the entities.

In the meantime, Dr Brebnor reiterated the THA’s commitment to improving support for the community.

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