NY Times: Budget Cuts Polarising Deaf Education
Friday, August 5th, 2011The increasing cohort of 21st century parents and deaf children who choose technology like cochlear implants in place of learning sign-language, is documented in a front-page article in The New York Times (July 27, 2011).
Less than 20 percent of all families [with deaf children] choose American Sign Language, with 80 percent wanting their children to enjoy [...]
Thesis: Mainstreaming Deaf Education In Ireland
Monday, June 27th, 2011Following legislation in 1998 and 2004, parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) children are facilitated in sending their child to the local school. As a result, there has been a dramatic increase in numbers of D/HH children in those settings and a subsequent drop in enrolment in schools for deaf pupils.
This thesis explores the changing [...]
Making Literacy And Classroom Tools Accessible
Friday, May 13th, 2011As everyday home, school and teaching content becomes digitised, accessible literacy-learning tools are needed, particularly for younger children encountering vocabulary and grammar structures for the first time.
In 2010, “A Usability Guide to Intelligent Web Tools for the Literacy of Deaf People” was published in Italy. Several key points are noted:
the age at which a person becomes deaf [...]
Deaf Children In The UK Face Teaching Cuts
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011Yesterday, an article on mainstream supports for deaf children in the UK (by Cathy Heffernan) ran in the UK’s Guardian broadsheet newspaper.
Deaf pupils will bear the brunt of education cuts
Eighty-five per cent of deaf pupils in the UK are mainstream-educated at present. Like in Ireland, these pupils, their families and school teachers draw vital support and [...]
Transitioning From Primary To Secondary School
Monday, May 2nd, 2011Moving from primary to secondary school is a process all students must undergo and it can be quite a daunting experience. Transitioning is also a crucial stage in a pre-teen child’s development, as their experiences at the time can significantly impact their later academic and social development.
For parents, the leap from primary to post-primary education can [...]
‘There Are Other Educational Choices Available’
Thursday, February 24th, 2011Parents’ responses are still being received, after the recent Derek Mooney radio interview with Eithne Carroll and Liam O’Dwyer. This latest email is from Orla Sexton, a parent in County Cork.
Dear Derek,
I refer to your recent interview with Eithne Carroll and Liam O’Dwyer concerning services for deaf children in Ireland. It is my opinion that [...]
Parents of Deaf Children Asked To Lobby TDs
Saturday, December 11th, 2010Earlier this year, the National Audiology Review Group invited parents of deaf children in Ireland, and interested others, to recount their experiences of the national audiology service. Here’s an update and call-to-action from Michael Flynn, the Parent/User Representative of the 2010 Review Group.
The work of the National Audiology Review Committee is complete and a comprehensive [...]
Off We Go! Books Joins App Store & Signed Stories
Friday, October 22nd, 2010Earlier this year, Limerick-based venture, Off We Go! Publishing and its ‘experience’ books for children were mentioned on this site.
Off We Go! is now offering two titles as animated iPhone & iPad apps from the App Store, in English and Spanish, with more titles to follow.
The apps teach children to expect sensory experiences on a [...]
Essential Hearing-Aid Tips For Parents & Families
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010Hearing-aids can be challenging for the families of children whose deafness is newly-confirmed. Parents have stories of no-one showing them how to put hearing aids in, when the aids are first received. At this time, the last thing a family needs is a device that beeps or buzzes because it’s put on incorrectly.
Parents aren’t always [...]
Special Stories Wins A Silver In Moonbeam Awards
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009Special Stories Publishers, whose Series 2 includes the IDK childrens’ book, “A Birthday For Ben“, won a silver medal in the 2009 Moonbeam Awards.
The international Moonbeam awards seek to acknowledge that “children’s book authors and publishers are creating books that not only celebrate the joys of childhood, but help kids and families deal with its [...]