Our family support programs provide educational sponsorship, nutritional support and medical care to families which have a member with special needs. This enables these families to continue to care for their family member in their home, rather than seeking out institutional care.
Educational Sponsor Program
Carlitos, one of our sponsor students, visiting us with his family |
All too often children with disabilities are not allowed to attend public school, or when they are, they are met by neglect and even ridicule. To help children with disabilities develop their potential, we provide tuition assistance for them to attend private schools in their area which are willing to accommodate their special needs. If this is not a possibility, we hire private teachers to work with them for a few hours a week so they can still receive at least a primary education.
Through sponsors we also provide continuing education for the residents of Casa de Esperanza, who aspire to complete at least a high school education. This is the first step in empowering them to become contributing members of their community.
Nutritional Support Program
We have developed relationships with a number of specialists and primary care physicians who have a sensitivity to the special needs of the disabled. Most of these are private physicians who, while often giving us a discounted fee for their services, do require payment. To provide this care which is not affordable for these patients or their families, we have a medical fund established to offset these expenses.
Wheelchairs & Communication Systems
If one cannot get around or speak, living in the community is much more difficult, if not impossible. If mobility and communication are the problems, wheelchairs and communications systems are often the solutions.
Working in coordination with Hope Haven International and other ministries in the area, we help those with disabilities acquire wheelchairs and other assistive devices, free of charge.
Many children and adults with disabilities are unable to speak due to cognitive and physical limitations. Since the ability to communicate is foundational to any type of education, we work to develop alternative methods of communication for theses individuals. Often this is through the use of picture symbols which they can use to indicate their wants and needs, participate in simple social communication, and learn to express their thoughts. When appropriate, sign language is also utilized to facilitate communication.