15/04/2026
TTAHI Charts Bold Future for Hearing Impaired Community at Strategic Board Retreat in Tobago
Tobago – April 13, 2026 – The Trinidad and Tobago Association for the Hearing Impaired (TTAHI) concluded a landmark three-day Board of Directors retreat yesterday at the Grafton Beach Resort, setting an ambitious course for the organisation’s growth and impact over the next five to ten years.
Held from Friday, April 10th to Sunday, April 12th, 2026, the retreat was more than a routine planning session. It was a deliberate and symbolic move by TTAHI’s leadership to signal a new era of expansion—with a focused and long-overdue commitment to the island of Tobago.
“Our decision to hold this strategic retreat in Tobago was intentional,” said Nicholas Cumberbatch President of TTAHI. “For decades, the hearing impaired community in Tobago has been underserved, with limited access to critical services, advocacy, and social support. If TTAHI is to truly serve all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, we must be present and effective here. This retreat marks the beginning of that transformation.”
Over the weekend, board members engaged in intensive strategy sessions, evaluating the association’s current programs, identifying gaps in service delivery, and outlining a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable growth. Key focus areas include expanding sign language education, vocational training for hearing-impaired adults, with special emphasis on early childhood intervention services, and leveraging digital tools to improve accessibility nationwide.
A central pillar of the new strategy is the establishment of a permanent, dedicated presence in Tobago. To that end, TTAHI leadership used the retreat as an opportunity to build critical bridges with the island’s governing bodies.
On Friday the board met with key members of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to formally introduce the association’s vision and initiate partnership discussions. Recognizing the THA as an integral part of Tobago’s social and political landscape, TTAHI sought to align its goals with local development priorities, including health, education, and social services. Present at the meeting were high level representatives of the THA, Dr. Faith Brebnor,THA Deputy Chief Secretary, Division of Health and Wellness, Representing the Chief Secretary Councillor Ackel Franklyn THA Assistant Secretary and Mr. Orlando Kerr THA Secretary, Division of Education, Skills and Training
“The THA’s role in shaping Tobago’s future cannot be overstated,” added Mwenda Robinson , TTAHI’s Public Relations Officer. “Our meeting was productive and hopeful. We are not asking to work in isolation—we want to be partners. Together, we can build a Tobago where every hearing-impaired individual has the same opportunities to learn, work, and thrive as anyone else.”
The sessions were Lead by Dr. Anthony Watkins Lead Facilitator, Ms. Kamla Rampersad-de Silva and General Manager of TTAHI Mrs. Anna Kay Seaton, the retreat concluded with a formal resolution to draft a 10-year strategic implementation plan by June 2026, with specific milestones for Tobago-based programming to begin within 18 months. TTAHI also committed to regular follow-up meetings with the THA and local Tobago stakeholders to ensure accountability and shared progress.
As TTAHI looks toward the next decade, the message from Tobago is clear: the association is no longer just a Trinidad-based organisation—it is a national movement, and Tobago is now at its heart.
About the Trinidad and Tobago Association for the Hearing Impaired (TTAHI)
TTAHI is the leading non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals across Trinidad and Tobago. Through advocacy, education, skill training, and community outreach, TTAHI works to create an inclusive society where hearing-impaired citizens can fully participate in all aspects of life.
Media Contact:
Mwenda Robinson
Public Relations Officer
868 485 5556
[email protected]
www.ttahi.org
