This one-day course is for all Primary and Post-Primary teachers who are teaching a student who is deaf / hard of hearing.
Course aims:
provide essential information on the nature and impact of deafness
give an understanding of the unique language, communication, social and emotional and assistive technology needs of deaf students
offer practical strategies that could impact on learning and teaching
promote collaborative approaches to meeting the needs of deaf/hard of hearing students
provide access to resources specifically for deaf / hard of hearing students
Course Content:
The Nature of Deafness: how the ear works; the causes, types and classifications of deafness; the nature of sound and the audiogram.
The Classroom Environment: accessing the acoustic/physical and linguistic environment; types of amplification; hearing aids, FM systems and soundfield systems; cochlear implants; strategies for enhancing the classroom environment.
Social and Emotional Development: balancing the social and emotional impact with the demands on literacy and language; implications on behaviour, motivation and self-esteem.
Language and Communication Approaches: language acquisition and development; approaches to language development; the digital language experience approach; communication approaches including sign language, finger spelling, bilingual approach, total communication and the oral/aural approach.
Learning and Teaching Strategies / Planning Workshop: practical strategies for the learning and teaching of deaf students; accessing the curriculum; available supports.
Resources: websites and books; a display of classroom resources.
Registration: 8.45 AM
Start: 9.15 AM
Finish: 3.15 PM
Lunch and refreshments will be provided.Participants will require permission from the Board of Management to attend. Typically, substitution for this seminar will only be allowed to classroom teachers who have prime responsibility for students with a special educational need and if it is deemed absolutely essential by the principal.