Balavidyalaya Trust
Organization background

Balavidyalaya Trust, a public trust, manages and bears the financial responsibility of the Balavidyalaya School for Young Deaf Children (BV). The school has been operating since 1969. BV offers free, early intervention education services to eligible children from birth to 6 years old in Chennai, India. Their services are based on the fact that nearly all deaf infants have some residual hearing, and early identification, diagnosis, fitment of amplification devices and early intervention can help deaf children tap into their residual hearing and learn to speak, and become active participants of mainstream society. Their services include diagnostic & educational services, outreach programs, research and training.

Project background

The school caters to and supports deaf children and their families across all socioeconomic groups, and no child is refused admission based on socio-economic criteria. However, only children younger than 3 years are admitted, and they complete the program by the time they are 5-6. At any given time, BV supports 60-65 children. They provide early intervention services to ensure that these children do not require special education services in the future, and can mingle and compete with their peers who can hear.

GKF contributions to Balavidyalaya Trust