Services and Programs:

The Atfaluna School for Deaf Children: Deaf academic education is offered to 270 children at pre-school, kindergarten, primary, and middle school levels. The primary teaching mode in the Atfaluna School is Palestinian Sign Language. The Atfaluna School curriculum includes subjects of particular importance to deaf children in addition to Arabic, English, Geography, Mathematics, Technology, Civics, and Science. The Atfaluna School is certified by the Ministry of Education.

Audiology Clinic: The ASDC Audiology Clinic is open to the general public and is staffed by two audiologists who conduct diagnostic evaluations and hearing aid fittings for infants, children, and adults. A social worker is attached to the Clinic to assist needy clients to access all their audiological needs. A hearing aid bank, hearing aid repair unit, and earmold-making workshop are all located on premises in order to provide a comprehensive service for clients.

Speech-Language Pathology Clinic: This is an outpatient clinic staff by two speech-language therapists. The clinic serves both children who are students at the ASDC School for Deaf Children as well as children and adults in the community who are in need of speech-language pathology for any number of reasons.

Community Screening and Awareness: Four times annually, audiologists conduct free hearing screening programs in four geographical locations in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 3,000 persons are screened annually in these programs which are well-advertised through local media. Persons failing screening tests are referred to the Audiology Clinic for diagnostic evaluation or are referred to medical service providers if indicated. The Community Screening and Awareness Program staff also provide free-of-charge screening at kindergartens, schools, and institutions upon request. Informal awareness and prevention lectures are conducted during screening days and printed literature is distributed.

Deaf Adult Education and Vocational Training:

  • Literacy and Numeracy Training
  • Cultural and Education Events (health care, women's health, deaf theatre, civic education, etc.)
  • Training Course for Deaf Teaching Assistants
  • Short-Term Production-Oriented Vocational Training
  • Vocational Training (2 – 4 yr. programs) in woodworking, pottery-making, rug weaving, carpet weaving, sewing, and traditional crafts-making

Income Generation for Deaf and Marginalized Persons:

Atfaluna Crafts is an income generation program which employs 70 deaf men and women in various workshops and another 250 deaf and marginalized women in their homes through the Work-From-Home Program. Atfaluna Crafts markets unique, quality Palestinian crafts and furniture items through its on-line catalogue as well as in an in-house shop.

The Early Intervention Program (EI): The EI is carried out in four geographical locations in the Gaza Strip annually and helps parents of newly-identified deaf children learn to interact and communicate with their deaf offspring. Counseling, home visits, and audiological services come together to complete the program.

Regional Sign Language Training: An average of five sign language courses at various levels are held annually in three main geographical areas in the Gaza Strip. Participants include parents and family members of deaf children and youth, community workers, teachers, and interested parties.

Social Services, Counseling, and Referral Unit: The unit is staffed with four social workers and a deaf counselor. Services are available to any person of any age in the Gaza Strip who suffers from a hearing loss. Services extend to the entire family unit. Clients are referred to the SSCRU from ASDC's various departments as well as from community service providers, private clinicians, and governmental and UN agencies. The SSCRU is responsible for individual case management and counseling and carries out regular home visits. Social workers are responsible for assisting deaf persons and their families to access their special needs which might include locating appropriate training courses, humanitarian assistance, sign language interpretation, or any other type of interventions or assistance.