EEESMA: Where Deaf Children Find Language, Belonging, and a Future

By Aundria McMillan Humphrey

Fourteen years ago, a small group of Deaf children in San Miguel de Allende walked into a new school with their heads down, their worlds quiet, and their futures uncertain. Most had no language, no access to meaningful education, and no place where they could fully belong. Today, those same children — and many who have followed — are fluent signers, confident learners, and young adults stepping into jobs, higher education, and leadership. Some have even returned as teachers. This is the story of EEESMA, the Escuela de Educación Especial de San Miguel de Allende, and the extraordinary transformation it has sparked in the lives of Deaf children across the region.

A School Built on Possibility

EEESMA is one of the Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende–Midday’s longstanding community projects, supported by founder John Doherty, Special Education expert and Board Member Ron Felton, and Michael Murphy, whose work has strengthened regional impact through partnerships such as Signs and Smiles, which trains teachers locally and across the state. When the school opened in 2012, it welcomed just six students. Today, enrollment has grown to 31, with more families hoping to join. Many travel long distances — from Dolores Hidalgo, Cabras, and rural communities up to 65 kilometers away — because they know what EEESMA makes possible. Families often arrive after realizing their children were receiving no meaningful education in the public system. Without language, many Deaf children were isolated at home, unable to communicate or learn. At EEESMA, they begin to blossom — cognitively, emotionally, and socially.

The school’s impact is visible in the quiet, daily victories: a child signing their first sentence, a teen learning to read after years of believing they couldn’t, a young adult stepping into a job with confidence. These moments are the heartbeat of the school.

Over the past four years, EEESMA has earned national and international recognition, including honors from the Municipality of San Miguel, International Global Media, and the Varkey Foundation for outstanding inclusive education. The school has also become a training hub for Deaf educators throughout Guanajuato. In partnership with the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, New York, EEESMA hosts annual weeklong workshops on classroom management, sign language development, and learning strategies for teachers and community members.

As enrollment has grown, so has the range of programs. Students now have access to academic enrichment such as coding and robotics, as well as extracurriculars like choir, chess, and karate.

A wide array of vocational workshops — from cooking and sewing to woodworking and jewelry making — prepares students for independence and employment.

Many students arrive with additional cognitive or developmental challenges, so the school’s teaching philosophy is built on flexibility, patience, and individualized support. Lessons are adapted to ensure full access and meaningful participation.

One young woman, who entered EEESMA in middle school, went on to complete a 2 ½ year online university program in Education — with the school’s support. She is now a teacher at EEESMA, a living example of what Deaf children can achieve when given language, opportunity, and love.

Why a New Facility Matters

With enrollment rising and programs expanding, the school has outgrown its current space. A new facility would allow for more classrooms, dedicated workshop areas, larger playgrounds, and family meeting rooms for expanded language support. EEESMA has begun the early stages of a capital campaign to make this vision a reality.

A Community Effort

EEESMA receives no government funding. Nearly half of its annual budget comes from community support — local donors, grants, and three to four fundraising events each year. The school’s continued growth, and the possibility of a new facility, depend on this collective commitment from San Miguel and beyond.

More Than a School

At its core, EEESMA is a place where Deaf children discover identity, belonging, and Deaf culture. It is a place where language opens the world, where confidence takes root, and where dreams begin to feel possible.

“Serving the school has had a profound influence on Sharon and me,” John reflects. “It has made us more caring, patient, and understanding. We have become better people.”

Ten years from now, he envisions a vibrant, expanded campus continuing to serve Deaf children, their families, and the broader Deaf community — a place where every child is seen, valued, and given the tools to thrive.

For more information or tosupport the new facility initiative, visit www.eeesma.com

Aundria McMillan Humphrey, Ageless Living Advocate — AgelessLivingJourney.com