On Tuesday, July 31st 2007, witnessed a special event which makes a difference for Lebanon as well as for the Arab countries.
The Learning Center for the Deaf and the Association of Parents of the Deaf celebrated the graduation of the highschool’s students, under the patronage of the Minister of the Education and Higher Education, Dr Khaled Kabbany.
The ceremony was postponed last year, due to the July war. However, as Dr Ismail – founder and director of the Highschool – declared, this delay was positive. In fact, it allowed the students to prove their capacities in the universities they attended last year. They have achieved distinctive successes, and won the admiration of their universities’ directors and colleagues.
Dr Ziad Fahd, director of the Students’ Affairs at Notre-Dame University (NDU), expressed his admiration and appreciation of the students. He explained that he was surprised with their capacities and exceptional success, saying: “They teach us confidence and faith in the Human Person, discarding his special condition”. Besides, he was proud to declare that NDU is the first university in the Middle East to register these students with hearing loss.
Dr Hanna El Jorr, director of AUST, Sidon, congratulated the administration of the Learning Center for the Deaf as well as the students’ parents. He mentioned the results achieved by a deaf student, Dana, in his university, as she became a good example for her colleagues, whom she was helping in their studies. He also wished that the language of humanity, culture and hope become an essential component for everyone in Lebanon, as it is the primary motive of the students and their parents.
Mr. Gaby Kastoun conveyed the congratulation of Minister Kabbany to the students and expressed his appreciation for the efforts they made along with the school.
Mrs. Rudayna Akkad, president of the Association of Parents of the Deaf, emphasized through her speech the right for real and effective integration of the deaf children in any qualified school in Lebanon.
Finally, Dr Hussein Ismail, director and founder of the High School Education for the Deaf gave a word of thanks to everyone, wishing to the students’ success and prosperity in their lives. Besides, he encouraged them to look after their deaf youngsters to help them reach their goals as they did themselves with their perseverance and determination to learn. This ceremony represents for him the first step towards the realization of his dream about seeing the Deaf persons in Lebanon gain their right to learn like any other hearing citizens.
