MISSION AND VISION
IDEA envisions a society in which the Deaf in the Philippines enjoy social and economic equality, exchanging isolation for community, servitude for self-reliance. We foster independence by providing academic, vocational, physical, spiritual, and economic opportunities for deaf children, adults, and families.  IDEA currently works exclusively in the Philippines but is open to opportunities to reach newly emerging deaf communities in developing countries.  Supported through donations, contributions, and grants, our ability to expand is limited only by funding and personnel.

DEAF EDUCATION
IDEA is a USA non-profit foundation that works to educate impoverished and neglected deaf children in the Philippines. More than 400 deaf children are able to attend IDEA supported special education classes on the islands of Bohol and Leyte. This is mainly made possible through a sponsorship program by which American or European families and individuals financially support the schooling of a student assigned to them.

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
IDEA was established in 1985. Many of the children that were in the early education programs are now adults and have families of their own. The adult Deaf need jobs so IDEA operates various businesses which provide employment to over 120 deaf men and women. These businesses also offer vocational training for deaf young people.

FAMILY TRAINING
It can be tough for deaf married couples to just learn how to set up a home, rent an apartment, pay bills, etc. Imagine how much more difficult it is for new deaf parents to learn how to take care of mostly hearing babies and raise their children. IDEA provides much needed counseling and training.

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
Home ownership is such an important step for the Deaf toward independence. IDEA is able to be instrumental in helping its deaf employees purchase their own home through a government housing loan program.  IDEA initially purchases the land, subdivides it, constructs the homes, and moves the Deaf families and individuals into the homes on a rent-to-own basis.  It then is able to process the government loan papers and eventually be reimbursed by the government so the funds can be recycled into additional housing for more IDEA staff.

AND MORE ...
IDEA is a holistic ministry to the Deaf in the Philippines. The “Deaf Culture” on Bohol and Leyte is only about 25 years old. There are so many areas of assistance from spiritual development to hygiene, financial budgeting to teaching the ABCs. We hope you will take time to learn more about us. The International Deaf Education Association is a 501(c)(3) organization and therefore all donations are fully tax-deductible. 

LOCATIONS 

Although there are tens of thousands of deaf children and adults in the Philippines, IDEA is currently focusing its effort on the islands of Bohol and Leyte in center of the archipelago. 

In the Philippines, the Deaf have dedicated classrooms within the government schools. Typically there may be 1000 hearing students attending an elementary school campus along with 50 to 70 IDEA supported deaf students. The Deaf  have their own classrooms and trained teachers but are mainstreamed into some classes. There are 7 such elementary school centers supported by IDEA on Bohol and Leyte.

IDEA also founded and supports the Bohol Deaf Academy (BDA) as a private high school on Bohol.  While not a government school, it is accredited by the government.  At the High School level there is a strong focus on vocational training, often in one of IDEA's many businesses which not only employ many of the graduates but also financially support the IDEA ministry as well.  High School students who live on Leyte either attend BDA or continue on to Leyte government High Schools where IDEA helps run vocational training programs.