Webinar 10: Self-advocacy skills and how to develop them with our deaf children

Content

One of the main lessons we have learned during the Covid-19 crisis is that those people with existing vulnerabilities have had a greater negative impact on them during the crisis.

Children with hearing loss have been more negatively impacted in school than many other children due mainly to the unintended consequences of actions such as mask wearing, 2m distancing, the opening of windows/doors to allow more air flow and more outdoor activities.

However, what the crisis has actually done is to emphasise the problems that have always been there. Before this crisis our learners have been more negatively impacted by noise, distance, reverberation and a general lack of awareness in the hearing population of the impact of hearing loss on children and the limitations of the technology. Therefore, the question is, how do we ensure that our children can become more resilient and empowered so that they can break through these difficulties, wherever they originate, by using knowledge and skills around self-advocacy?

Joe discussed the ways he tries to develop these skills and structures with the pupils and schools he works with. It was great to also hear how other professionals and services are addressing this issue. Participants were also encouraged to share their ideas and good practice.

Target Audience

Teachers of the Deaf, Support staff and School teachers.

Presenter

Joe O’Donnell, Educational Audiologist, Hearing2Learn Ltd