NMSC Pilot Basic Sign Language Workshops a Success

October 8, 2014, Baguio City - NMS Cares concluded its pioneer Basic Sign Language Workshops, which is part of the Family Oneness Nurturing the Deaf Program, with lots of laughter and hope for the future.

NMS CARES INC. Basic Sign Language Workshops pioneering class: Parents from Baguio SPED Center.

 On October 2, NMSC rolled out certificates of completion and recognition to the 20 parents of Deaf learners from the Baguio SPED Center. The parents have all completed NMSC’s 3-month basic sign language program that is focused on teaching parents, guardians, and family members of young Deaf learners basic sign to help them communicate better with their kids.

“Ang laki ng naitulong sa akin ng sign language kasi noon hirap na hirap ako makipag-communicate sa anak ko kasi hindi ako marunong mag-sign language. Hindi ko siya maintindihan, hindi niya ako maintindihan.” (Learning basic sign language has been a big help for me because in the past, it has been very difficult for me to communicate with my Deaf child. I can’t understand what she wants to tell me, she can’t understand me.)

Parent of one of the young Deaf learners Nora Quiambao was teary-eyed halfway through our interview with her when asked about the impact of the program in her and her 8-year-old Deaf kid’s life. She lamented on the frustrations she and her family had to go through just because they cannot communicate well with their youngest family member. But now, she enthusiastically tells us about how she has become the family’s designated interpreter, making it easier for everyone in their household to interact with her.

“Ngayong natuto ako mag-sign language, kahit pag nasa jeep kami pauwi, nag-uusap kaming dalawa. Tuwang-tuwa nga yung mga katabi namin, yung mga kasakay namin kasi tinatanong nila ako kung ano daw ang pinag-uusapan namin.” (Now that I know how to sign, I can talk to my kid during our daily commute going home and talk about her day in school. Even the people around us love watching us talk and some would even ask me what we’re talking about.)

The thrust of the FOND Program is to help strengthen the bond between Deaf child and his or her family members through constant communications. Aside from free sign language classes given to family members and the general community, the program also aims to educate people on how to better understand, communicate, and connect with Deaf individuals in the community.

Aside from teaching sign, NMSC trainers also enlighten program attendees on Deaf culture in order to ensure a much clearer understanding on the ways of Deaf individuals and how to better interact with them.

The parents during their final presentation as part of the concluding program of the Basic Sign Language Workshops.

NMSC is set to launch a series of Basic Sign Language classes catering to the family members of Deaf learners from the other Deaf schools in the city. The organization’s Deaf professionals, closely monitored by NMSC’s Program Developer and Communications head, facilitate the classes.

(NMSC would like to extend it's gratitude to the staff and faculty of the Hearing Impaired Sequence of the Baguio SPED Center headed by Principal Niño Tibangay for letting us use their gym to conduct our workshops)

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About NMS Cares

NMS CARES, INC. is a Philippine SEC-registered non-stock, non-profit association with a vision for Deaf children to reach their dreams. The organization fully commits to advocating for the Deaf children of the community while looking forward to expanding its service all throughout the less privileged young Deaf individuals in the Asia Pacific.

To know more about NMS CARES, please visit http://nms-cares.org or email us at info@nms-cares.org.

#DidYouKnow

PRESS RELEASE: 4 COMPUTERS FOR 4 DEAF SCHOOLS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Mamaril, Communications
sarah@nms-cares.org
+63 917 5195380 
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August 15, 2014, Baguio City – NMS Cares, Inc. continue to forge solid partnerships with 3 Deaf schools in Baguio City, along with 1 located in nearby La Trinidad, by setting up a complete computer unit at each school.

The second-hand computers have been previously donated by New Media Services Pty. Ltd. and has been refurbished to ensure optimum performance prior to their installation at the three city-based Deaf schools namely: Baguio School for the Deaf, Easter College-SPED Department and Deaf Resource Center - SLRI. A unit was also installed for the use of the Deaf class at the Benguet SPED Center in La Trinidad. NMSC is also looking into the possibility of setting up an Internet connection for the schools, with the exception of BSD as they already have a working connection. The computers will be maintained by the organization through monthly maintenance checks, as well as apply upgrades when necessary.

"Technology plays a crucial role in the advancement of Deaf education. Aside from our free after-school IT Program that we are launching next month, we want to make sure that the kids have access to a computer, especially when at school," Martin Eyking, on why NMSC has decided to place a computer at each school despite the fact that the organization will soon have a training space at the University of Baguio, the result of a partnership with the university's FRB Foundation, who are also strong advocates for Persons With Disabilities.

Furthermore, the teachers in preparing for their lessons can also utilize the computers. This move is just a small part of NMSC's ABCDE Program (Advancement Beyond the Classroom in Deaf Education), where the focus is on experiential learning.

PC installation at the Baguio School for the Deaf

Explaining computer functions to a Deaf educator at Benguet SPED Center

A computer addition to Easter College - SPED department's modest teaching facilities.

With the educators at the Deaf Resource Center - SLRI

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About NMS Cares

NMS CARES, INC. is a Philippine SEC-registered non-stock, non-profit association with a vision for Deaf children to reach their dreams. The organization fully commits to advocating for the Deaf children of the community while looking forward to expanding its service all throughout the less privileged young Deaf individuals in the Asia Pacific.

To know more about NMS CARES, please visit http://nms-cares.org or email us at info@nms-cares.org.

DREAM. PURSUE. ACHIEVE.

Press Release: NMS CARES TO LAUNCH ITS FREE I.T. PROGRAM IN SEPTEMBER

August 4, 2014, Baguio City – Following its successful Information Event last August 2, NMS Cares founder Martin Eyking makes his rounds on all 4 schools catering to Deaf learners in Baguio City along with 1 located in nearby La Trinidad.

NMSC founder Martin Eyking with Teacher Fran of the Deaf Resource Center-SLRI.

To further cement partnerships with academic institutions that look after the education of young Deaf individuals of the local community, NMSC has begun to collate information from the schools that could help the team in customizing the organization's IT programs. Using in-house content, the team is set to launch customized and level-specific learning programs derived from the results of the survey questionnaires distributed to the different schools. The statistics gathered from the survey will help NMSC to gauge the IT skill level of the young Deaf learners, which is crucial in ensuring that the kids are categorized correctly and placed under the right program.

"In order for us to be able to deliver our services seamlessly to the community, it is important that we have the right information. There is no best way to ensure that our programs and workshops are spot-on other than getting first-hand information on the learning capacity of our beneficiaries. And that is why partnering and working closely with Deaf schools is crucial." ~ Martin Eyking,during his visit to the different Deaf schools.

While the organization will be provided with its own space where NMSC trainers will conduct both after-school IT programs for the kids and Sign Language Workshops, it has also pledged to set up a computer unit and Internet access in all 5 Deaf schools. 

Specific date of the after-school IT programs and Sign Language Workshops will be announced by the end of the month. 

An animated conversation between Martin Eyking and Rev. Fernando Lausa of the Baguio School for the Deaf.

Anyone interested to join our Free after-school IT program for kids, and Sign Language Workshops can get in touch with NMSC via its official Facebook page (facebook.com/nmscares) or call/SMS at (074) 422-2935 and 09175329420 and look for Ara or Sarah.

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About NMS Cares

NMS CARES INC is a Philippine SEC-registered non-stock, non-profit association with a vision for Deaf children to reach their dreams. The organization fully commits to advocating for the Deaf children of the community while looking forward to expanding its service all throughout the less privileged young Deaf individuals in the Asia Pacific.

To know more about NMS CARES, please visit http://nms-cares.org or email us at info@nms-cares.org.

Press Release: NMS CARES INC formally introduced to the public

August 4, 2014, Baguio City – Following its official registration as a non-stock corporation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, NMS Cares Inc. was formally introduced to the local community in a successful social gathering last August 2, 2014 at the Crown Legacy Hotel in Baguio City.

The event was attended by city government leaders, active advocates for the Deaf and of PWD's, Special Education school heads and teachers, parents of Deaf learners and eager participants from the community. Staying true to its vision to make Deaf children reach their dreams, key members of the NMS Cares team, headed by founder Martin Eyking delivered a slew of presentations showcasing the brief history of the organization, its inner workings, and their plans for the future.

Pictured here are some of the New Media Services Pty. Ltd. staff who are also active members of the organization, with Philippine CEO of NMS Atty. Rafael Nacionales, Australia CEO of NMS and NMS Cares founder Martin Eyking, Hon. Councillor Betty Lourdes Tabanda and PEZA Administrator Atty. Rene Mipa.

Martin Eyking was quoted during his opening speech at the event as saying,

Our aims and dreams are huge, we have many ideas and plans. We are building NMS Cares with clear directions and short term goals; they include a dedicated building for NMS cares to serve the needs of the Deaf community as well as delivering IT programs for young Deaf learners and Signing workshops for the parents.

The gathering was punctuated by an on point delivery of General Manager Ara Paz Esperanza Villanueva on the current state of Deafness, both internationally and locally, with information from the World Health Organization. Her presentation also put a spotlight on the current programs being run by the organization, as well as short-term and long term plans, which include Parents of Newborn Deaf Babies Support Structure and a Visiting Teacher for the Deaf Service.

NMS Cares ended the event by assuring the attendants that the organization will continue to make it their mission to provide all the support they can give for the young Deaf learners of the local community, and of their families.

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About NMS Cares

NMS CARES’ vision is for Deaf children to reach their dreams. The organization fully commits to advocating for the Deaf children of the community while looking forward to expanding its service all throughout the less privileged young Deaf individuals in the Asia Pacific.

To know more about NMS CARES, please visit http://nms-cares.org or email us at info@nms-cares.org.