Deaf Children Australia has launched a free online course designed to help rural and regional school communities better support their deaf and hard-of-hearing children and families.
Experiencing a normal school life can be tough enough for deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) kids, but a recent survey by Deaf Children Australia (DCA) has shown the challenge in rural and regional schools is even greater, with many saying their schools lack the skills, resources and support to give DHH an even break.
The survey of hundreds of parents, carers and school staff, primarily in rural and regional areas, found that over 60 per cent of respondents believe their mainstream school needs greater deaf awareness while over 40 per cent reported their schools have limited skills in effectively communicating with deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
This is despite 83 per cent of deaf and hard of hearing students in Australia attending mainstream schools.*
The DCA survey also found that 80 per cent of respondents felt the school community would benefit from skills and resources to better support DHH kids.
In response to the data, DCA has launched Building Bridges, a free, Australian-first online course to equip schools with the skills and resources to give deaf and hard-of-hearing kids the sort of quality education and support every kid deserves.
Building Bridges is evidence-based and built on years of research, and designed to be practical and flexible for any school setting and individual need.
Building Bridges includes:
- Deaf awareness, communication tips and guidance
- Access to a video library of 200+ school-friendly Auslan signs
- Downloadable resources with practical information about inclusion, Auslan and classroom activities
- FREE Auslan Resource Pack with posters, activity sheets PLUS two large format Platypus
- Playhouse storytime books with key Auslan signs and translations that gently introduce Auslan to DHH and families.
Building Bridges is based on the principle that DHH students deserve the same level of support and inclusion that is provided to students of other abilities.
DCA spokesperson Ms Sarah Brennan, Project Lead, said Building Bridges will help school communities understand the different types of deafness, how to recognise and respond to them, and the unique challenges faced by the DHH when it comes to inclusion and participation.
“We know deaf and hard-of-hearing students thrive when their school community understands how to support them, but many within that community feel they do not have the skills or resources to properly communicate with them to ensure they feel fully included,” she said.
“All students, regardless of their abilities, have the right to communicate with, and be understood by their teachers, school staff and peers.
“And when it comes to special education and additional assistance in regional and rural areas, the challenge is even greater, with limited options for families who choose to live in these communities.
“Building Bridges is a highly-practical, flexible way to embed inclusive practices across your school — at no cost.”
*https://www.flyingcolours.org.au/research/education-of-the-deaf-in-australia-and-norway-a-comparative-study-of-the-interpretations-and-applications-of-inclusion/
For more information, visit https://www.deafchildrenaustralia.org.au/building-bridges/
