Historical Overview and Current Context
- Our Beginnings: The school began in 1996 at Mawroh-Mawlai with 2 students
- Current residence: Shifted to Umniuh-Khwan on 23rd February, 2002
- Partner (LRO): Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (MSMHC)
- Area Covered: Northeast and other parts of India
True to the philosophy of MSMHCs founder, Bishop Stephen Ferrando and sparked by a great Compassion and Love, Ferrando Speech and Hearing Centre was established on 16 April, 1996 by Sr. Merly Tom Kizhakayil and Late Sr. Sophia Syiem with the primary purpose of empowering the neglected, the downtrodden and marginalized children with speech and hearing impairment. The school which began with a mere 2 students in 1996 at Mawroh-Mawlai and shifted to Umniuh-Khwan on 23 February, 2002 has become a bastion and safe haven not only for the speech and hearing-impaired children but children with other disabilities. The centre which initially catered to the educational and rehabilitative needs of the hearing-impaired pupils has opened its doors to children with other forms of disabilities, thus, becoming one of the pioneers of Inclusive Education in India and a zealous advocate for an Inclusive and Integrated Society, characterized by equity, equality and social justice. The academy has since its inception focused on the provision of quality education, and has become a centre of excellence competing with the likes of mainstream schools which are better funded, possessing better networking and support.
Since its initiation, competent, empathetic and passionate leaders the likes of Sr. Merly Tom Kizhakayil, Late Sr. Sophie Syiem, Sr. Maya Pohshnah, Sr. Bindu Thomas and many more have guided the school by giving it the needed sunshine, watering and care thereby, transforming it into an icon of merit, expertise, strength, self-determination, fairness and justice for all. This is shown by the fact that in 2010, FSHC was conferred a National Award by the Indian government for its outstanding services rendered in the field of welfare of children. The prestigious award was conferred by the then President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil and received on behalf of the institute by Sr. Merly Tom Kizhakayil. The school has also been very fortunate to receive consistent support from its teachers and staff, who have collectively journeyed across treacherous landscape, through bowers and glades and stood tall like immovable pillars.
FSHC is also one of the first schools in Northeast India to have adopted Sign Language as a medium of instruction and communication, thus, furthering sign language awareness and usage. Apart from the focus on academic excellence, it has consistently emphasized on extra-curricular activities and has constantly participated in district, state and national sports and other co-curricular competitive and non-competitive events, bringing laurels and wider recognition to the institution. Efforts have been made to impart the children of India’s political process by involving them in Children’s Parliament.
Notable Alumni include Mr. Mohit Chaudhary, who passed out from the institution in 2014 and went on to complete B.Tech. and subsequently had a stint at Infosys, Bangalore. Other noteworthy alumni are Mr. Lalboi Paite and Mr. Rahul Sharma, while the former completed his MSW from ADBU (Assam Don Bosco University) in 2020 and is currently working and pursuing PhD in the same university; the latter graduated with Bachelor in Computer Applications (BCA) at St. Louis College for the Deaf, Chennai and is working at Dibrugarh Airport, Assam.
The institute has faced and continues to face a range of challenges in navigating and adjusting to both expected and unexpected issues in the field of social development. Its survival is a testament to the grit, commitment and determination of its leaders. It also has a history of actively involving in empowering Children with Disabilities (CWDs), enhancing their accessibility and inclusivity, along with promotion and engagement in healthcare, livelihood and home-based rehabilitation services within the villages of Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya through partnership with Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR).
FSHC is a charitable organization working for empowerment of persons with hearing impairment and other disabilities through early intervention, education, rehabilitation and manpower development. It reaches out to hearing impaired children and children with other disabilities from all over India, especially from the Northeastern region. The present batch of children comes from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Sikkim and Nagaland. There are also a few children from Kolkata and Bihar.
The centre gives special attention to the prevention and reduction of the effects of preventable hearing loss in young children through early identification, rehabilitative intervention and pre-school education. Besides catering to the children, it also works towards the empowerment of families to help them in successfully navigating the challenges of raising their hearing-impaired wards.
Some of the major works undertaken by the institution are early intervention, inclusive education, rehabilitation, vocational training and manpower development concerning the hearing impaired. Vision Unit (refraction and distribution of corrective glasses); Orthotic, Prosthetic and Physiotherapy unit, Ear-Mold Lab and Audiology Unit complement the rehabilitative efforts of the institution. Furthermore, the school has devoted and competent teachers, dedicated classrooms, hostels for both boys and girls and importance sections like Library, Science Unit, spacious playground, basketball court and other infrastructures ensuring safety and quality of learning.
The school was recognized and affiliated to Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) on 26 March, 2019 and continues its foundational dream of empowerment, promotion of self-determination, fairness, equality and rights of children with hearing impairment and disabilities.
Vision
Our Vision is to educate and empower persons with disability, especially who are deaf and hard of hearing for an independent living in an inclusive society
Mission
FSHC is a charitable organization committed to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities, especially who are deaf and hard of hearing through Early Intervention, Education, Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Services
