Children born to deaf parents are taught life and speech skills in special Hong Kong course
CODA Hong Kong, through funding from Operation Santa Claus, aims to provide support for such families in need
Two-year-old Jesse Wong Wai-hang is a bundle of energy zipping around with another child of the same age in a play area at a centre. Through games and pictures, the children are being taught to recognise facial expressions in relation to emotions.
When asked if he is happy, Wong breaks into a big grin before scampering off with his play mate.
The boy is a participant in a speech and language enhancement course for children of deaf adults (CODA).
The parents of the children in this workshop are hearing-impaired. They hope their little ones, who can hear but are being brought up in a household without speech, are able to communicate with people effectively when they get older.
Project organisers at CODA Hong Kong, an NGO established in 2013, said they sought to support deaf families and their children by empowering them to face challenges in the hearing community.
Instructors address the children’s emotional, social and language development, as well as their identity and family issues.