New Study: Babies Learn Language By Lip-reading
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012All babies lip-read from about 6 months of age, to learn mouth-shapes for the sounds they hear, according to researchers at Florida Atlantic University.
When a baby gazes intently at a speaker’s mouth, this indicates they are working to learn to form syllables for themselves, instead of just babbling.
Read the piece >> Babies Learn Language By [...]
Write-Up Of IDK’s Tech Event (Oct 10th, 2011)
Sunday, October 23rd, 2011Irish Deaf Kids held a technology and education event in Dublin on October 10th, 2011. The event proved to be invaluable for all attendees, and was put together to give parents, educators and other stakeholders in-depth insights to how deaf and hard-of-hearing (hoh) children can use digital tools to better communicate and learn in a [...]
Insights To The Deaf Education Debate In The US
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011A deaf person’s life-experience of the education system, shapes their views on deaf education, according to a new post on the Paraquad Disability Blog.
The Deaf Education Debate Continues: Influences of technology, policy and environment
The different perspectives in this post are worth reading, for a better understanding of the core issues around school placements for students.
Further [...]
IDK’s October 10th Information Session: Update
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011At IDK’s tech and education event in Dublin on October 10th 2011, a few tech solutions were profiled for their role in facilitating children with hearing issues to listen, communicate and learn in mainstream environments.
A key point: technology needs integrating into an environment, to benefit everyone present – not just the children who are deaf or [...]
Touchscreen Tech Boosts Literacy In Deaf Children
Thursday, September 29th, 2011Technology tools can be instrumental in teaching literacy skills to children with hearing issues and/or other learning needs, as this article shows.
Touchscreen tech helps people with disabilities
Some parents and educators are reserved about using iPads in early-years education. Moderation and context are advised in such settings but if an iPad device helps develop a child’s language [...]
Technology Has Revolutionised Deaf Education
Thursday, September 15th, 2011The teaching of children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing has altered as a result of technologies such as cochlear implants and speech-to-text tools, according to a recent report from Project Forum, at the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, in the United States (see summary).
Technology Has Changed The Teaching Of Deaf Students
Notable findings [...]
What Tertiary Supports Do Deaf Students Need?
Wednesday, August 31st, 2011Statistically, more and more deaf and hard-of-hearing students are enrolling in mainstream tertiary institutions in the US (Raue & Lewis, 2011). The same is happening in Ireland, due to a convergence of factors that includes Trinity College Dublin’s DS3 (Deaf Support in Third Level) program.
Different tertiary education supports are needed for students who:
have hearing aids and [...]
New School Year – A Quick Reference List
Monday, August 29th, 2011If you’re a parent or teacher with a deaf child starting a new school year, here’s a quick reference list that might answer some of your questions.
Hearing Assistance Entitlements
Educational Supports in Ireland
Advocating For Your Child’s Service Provision
The Visiting Teacher Service: Background Details
The Effective Use of IEPs in Irish Classrooms
What To Do If Your Child’s Support [...]
What To Do If Your Child’s Support Hours Are Cut
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011The parent of a deaf student emailed IDK. Her child’s secondary-school teaching support hours were cut during Transition Year, when the regional SENO said this was not the case. A deadlock had resulted, so our advice was sought. Here’s what we suggested.
Get a statement of resource teaching &/or SNA hours at the start.
All arrangements with [...]
SNA Provision: The DES Value For Money Review
Thursday, July 21st, 2011The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme in schools in Ireland was assessed in value-for-money terms by the Department of Education from 2007/8 to 2010. Their June 2011 report is online.
In the report, concern emerges that “excess [SNA] support may lead to an over-dependence by the student on … support, [with] loss of opportunity for the student [...]