On June 25, we made a new friend from Norway. Aina Therese Fossum visited Georgia for the fourth time and met with parents of beneficiaries, social worker and administration member of ”Ai Ia” at Public School N64. She holds a position of senior counselor at Norwegian Inclusive Education Service Statped and is the mother of a child with cochear implant. Aina shared her personal and professional experience working with children with cochlear implants.

We also talked about sign language during the meeting. For children with cochlear implants, there has been a long discussion about the importance of sign language. Aina, based on her daughter’s experience and Norwegian studies, told us that learning sign language in addition to working with hearing and speech development, from the very early age helps to develop communication and cognition of a child undergoing cochlear implantation.

Hørselshemmede barns organisasjon – Hhbo also donated cochlear implant batteries, cochlear implant parts and developmental toys as a gift to the audience.

We thank our Norwegian friends and are pleased to have acquired a valuable supporter from Hhbo. Our cooperation will continue in the future.