San Miguel School for Special Education

There are no publicly funded schools for deaf children in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico. If the parent of a deaf child wishes to send their child to school they have no option but to send them to languish, virtually untaught, in a public school classroom with hearing students and with no special instruction whatsoever.

Escuela de Educación Especial de San Miguel de Allende, A.C. (San Miguel School for Special Education) opened its doors on September 3, 2012 to assist these children. A group of seven dedicated local residents and professionals, who had a special interest in helping deaf students in the community, came together to form the board of trustees, have the non-profit society registered, rent and renovate suitable premises, hire three Mexican teachers and reach out into the community to bring deaf Mexican youngsters together to improve their standard of education.

The most important and vital program of EEESMA is to provide an academic education to young Deaf children in San Miguel de Allende. They offer preschool through high school classes in a bilingual model of Mexican Sign Language and written Spanish. Scientific evidence proves that a child introduced to language (or sign language) at a young age, two years or younger, has a much better chance to succeed academically, making learning to read and write in primary school far more attainable.

San Miguel group
San Miguel painting

2024 Update

A new school year has just started and John Doherty has sent a newsletter to the club with photos of the celebration. A team of 8-10 Southtowne Rotarians is flying down for a week October 25 – November 3 to help them celebrate Day of the Dead!

Another challenge that EEESMA faces is the employability of students after they graduate from school.  With the future in mind, they have developed the following programs so that the students are equipped with practical skills they can utilize in future work environments:

  • Job skills training
  • Entrepreneurship classes
  • Communication coaching
  • Transitioning to the workplace

san miguelIn 2019, for the first time, three young women completed their on-line high school classes. This was a huge milestone for EEESMA, providing first hand, role models to other young people who are deaf. They can now witness their fellow students’ success and be inspired by it, working hard to achieve that same success, and perhaps even more. Families of the students contribute a small amount each month toward the school’s operation however the majority of funds are received through grants, donations and fundraising.

Since 2015 Southtowne Rotary has provided support through grant money that has been used to help train teachers and purchase books, supplies and sewing machines for their vocational training program. When Southtowne Rotarians visited the school in January, 2020 members were able to spend a day with the students in their vocational workshops including carpentry, jewelry making, sewing, and mural painting.  A short course in sign language and eating lunch together helped us cement relationships that will continue to grow in the future!

In September of 2022, 3 new sewing machines (high level embroiderer, surger, and industrial sewing) were donated on behalf of Pat Buchanan at the Springs, who passed away in August 2022. With Nick Forrest’s’ help we sent them to Santa Barbara, where Donn Zellet picked them up and transported them in his van, down to San Miguel de Allende’s School for the Deaf that we have supported for the past 10 years.

Fall 2024 Update

School for the Deaf in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico: five couples from Eugene Southtowne spent an amazing week in San Miguel de Allende. The founder of the school, John Doherty, was presented with the club’s $500 check to support the school this year. We also donated sewing, carpenters and leather supplies, thanks to Camille and Jim cleaning out their garage and attic! The team enjoyed festivities at the school, watching the kids do a Taekwondo workout, and a very stimulating song in sign language. We enjoyed Day of the Dead celebrations all over town and in Guanajuato (some of us). Many visited the pyramids near town, while others went to the hot springs for massages and facials, or just to soak. We were there with another Rotary group from Cupertino and enjoyed getting to know them. We all visited a local winery and had a gourmet lunch.  Dinners at John’s local favorite restaurants were also enjoyed.  Our team stayed together in a beautiful modern home on the Ventanas golf course, just outside town. We enjoyed the place but missed being in the middle of town as we had been on earlier team trips. All in all, a wonderful experience. We hope more Southtowners can join us next trip.