Association for the Deaf celebrates

The Gozo Association for the Deaf is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a series of activities. It was set up on May 21, 1988.

On June 20 a power point presentation outlining the history of the association was held at the Gozo Ministry. It was followed by a play, Rina, by Charles Casha and performed by the students of the Gozo Drama School including some hearing impaired members of the association.

The choreography was by Miriam Curmi and the songs by Mariella Spiteri. George Mizzi was the artistic director.

Association president Eucharist Attard spoke on the work performed by the association and explained the strategies being adopted to meet its objectives.

A special mention was made of Robin Wood, who until the very end of his life gave sterling support to the association and helped numerous members.

The committee then presented Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono with a commemorative plate. She spoke highly of the association's endeavours and praised its achievements. She then opened an art exhibition at the Gozo Ministry in aid of the association. Other activities marking the anniversary included a thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, an open day at the centre with free hearing tests for the public, and a lecture by Sue Lewis, an expert in education of the deaf.

Ms Lewis came over to give a five-day course of lectures to teachers of the hearing-impaired and some inclusion co-ordinators on the assessment tools devised to assess language development in hearing-impaired toddlers.