Sound Advice At The United Nations
In early 2016, Sound Advice was named a top-100 global inclusive education entity by the Zero Project, and exhibited February 10 to 12 at the United Nations office in Vienna, Austria. On February 12 Louise Honck from AVuk joined Caroline Carswell to present the auditory-verbal (hearing-speech) case for inclusive education in the conference panel session
Speaking at the VdGM International Forum (Dublin)
A certain irony existed in being asked by Dr Peter Sloane, to join a panel at the Vasco da Gama Movement Forum in Dublin – after doctors in the 1970s had said I would never talk. Before this call to speak on the science of cochlear implants, the VdGM (Vasco da Gama Movement), the WONCA Europe Working Group for New
"My Brother John" – Teaching Kids About Deafness
Almost exactly a year ago, IDK posted a piece about explaining deafness in concept books for children – which also educate teachers and other adults! One of these books, My Brother John (published May 2008), introduces deafness, hearing aids, cochlear implants & sign language in a single story. The story, told from the perspective of
NDCS Highlights Deaf Childrens' Teaching Needs
The National Deaf Childrens’ Society (NDCS) in the UK believes deaf children need to be better accommodated in the government’s 2020 strategy for the workforce dealing with children and young people. NDCS’ key recommendations in its feedback on this strategy include: Better guidance for mainstream teachers working with deaf children An audit of the early years workforce so the
NCC Statement On Education & Training
The National Competitiveness Council recently issued key points to prepare the country’s education system to contribute to future economic growth. Some recommendations are a direct fit for IDK’s messages. 1) Develop a formal pre-primary education system as a key priority Specifically: integrating disadvantaged children into education as early as possible providing pre-primary education & centre-based daycare at one venue re-orienting
Using Blog Tools For Storytelling & Picture Diaries
Some time ago, IDK ran a piece about making picture diaries for natural language development and keeping weekly diaries to teach literacy. Parents and teachers at some schools send home-school books back and forth with a child who’s deaf, to keep a log of what’s learned in classes. Blogs can actually become a substitute for home-school
Teacher Question – Hearing On One Side Only
A teacher recently asked IDK how to improve their classroom environment for a young child who hears on one side only. Background noise complicates listening for children who rely on one ear for hearing, so teachers need to manage ambient sounds in the classroom. Environmental sounds from school playgrounds, assembly halls, traffic, outdoor machinery or even inside the classroom
IDK Responds To Two Calls For Submissions
IDK recently responded to calls for submissions from two state entities, the Teaching Council and the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF). The Teaching Council sought feedback as part of its review of its Codes of Professional Conduct for Teachers, which describe “standards of teaching, knowledge, skill and competence” and professional conduct for teachers. Separately, the NESF made
Baby Books & Flash Cards For Language Teaching
The Usborne book range includes the “Baby’s First Flashcards” product, excellent for language work at home, while being fun for babies and parents to look at and hold. Infants from 3 months upward have the option of a sharp graphic design on one side, as they learn to focus their eyes. Older babies will enjoy the softer,
Tips For Visual Teaching At Primary Level
Clear presentation of information in classrooms benefits a cross-section of pupils, including deaf children and learners of English as a second language. The challenge for teachers (classroom & resource) is to translate curriculum material into a classroom-friendly version to suit a range of abilities. Classroom displays are one way to do this. Visual & pictorial elements
Interactive Whiteboards Benefit Inclusive Teaching
Interactive whiteboards altered teaching practices at St Columba’s Girls National School in Co Cork, after its deaf pupils benefited from the tools. St Columba’s GNS, which has a facility for deaf students and teaches all its 600 students sign language, quickly realised the value of the whiteboards. When teaching new concepts in class, visual images and
Theatre Accessibility For Deaf Children
Everyone enjoys a trip to the theatre once in a while, but in reality stage performances are more accessible to some, than to others. Childrens’ theatre in Ireland is a key element of the wider arts scene and should be made accessible to deaf children as far as possible. About 3,500 deaf youngsters nationwide would
eBook: Teaching A Deaf Child To Hear And Speak
Edited by Caroline Carswell