Why a diagnosis of neurofibromatosis calls for the attention of a deaf educator

This paper will seek to describe neurofibromatosis (NF), the scope of its impact, how NF relates to hearing loss, and why someone with a teacher of the deaf’s expertise may have information to offer the intervention team for a child diagnosed with NF

Supporting students who struggle with language

This chapter considers children who have speech, language and communication difficulties. These can arise from insufficient quality or quantity of language experience, or they may arise developmentally, despite appropriate language input from families and carers. They may or may not be associated with impairments such as hearing loss, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy or autistic spectrum disorders. Whether children's difficulties are specific to language-learning or more general, it is important that they become motivated, engaged learners. Motivation is central, but not in itself enough to guarantee high engagement. Engaged readers are intrinsically (rather than extrinsically) motivated to read, and have the required resources and strategies to do so. Meta-analyses show that strategy teaching, curricular coherence, choice, social collaboration and purpose all impact upon reading engagement (Guthrie and Wigfield 2000). Motivation and engagement impact upon attainment through mechanisms such as practice effects and perseverance. Continued engagement is therefore particularly important for children with speech, language and communication difficulties. Where language is part of the problem, children are at significant risk of literacy difficulties persisting into adult life (Law et al. 2009)

Related Services for Vermont\u27s Students with Disabilities

The purpose of Related Services for Vermont’s Students with Disabilities is to offer information regarding related services that is consistent with IDEA and with Vermont Law and regulations. It also describes promising or exemplary practices in education, special education, and related services. The manual’s content applies to all related services disciplines which serve students with disabilities, ages 3 through 21, who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Attitudes to Makaton in the ages on integration and inclusion

The Makaton Vocabulary was developed in the 1970’s and became, and has remained, one of most pervasive and influential pedagogical approaches for children with severe learning difficulties. This article looks at attitudes towards Makaton and compares findings from two studies, carried out in a sample of special schools in the south west of England during 1986 and 1995. Overall, the results suggest that attitudes towards the use of Makaton signs have become more positive. Makaton signs are now regarded, overall, as supporting and facilitating language development, and earlier concerns about stigmatisation have declined. There is some evidence to suggest that this latter change is influenced by changes in attitudes to British Sign Language. The 1986 study predicted that new technology would have a significant impact on attitudes to language and communication systems such as Makaton, but this prediction was not supported in the 2005 study. The article highlights also how different attitudes towards Makaton can exist within the same school, and how this situation can have a significant impact on the educational experiences and opportunities of children with severe learning difficulties. The article concludes that the apparent educational movements of integration or inclusion produce different attitudes towards Makaton and how it is used. However, although Makaton signing has become seen as a tool to create educational inclusion, the extent to which the system itself has actually changed is a contentious issu

Exploring The Self-Regulatory Behaviors of Elementary Students with Hearing Loss in Inclusive Classrooms

An exploratory, mixed-method and multi-level research design was employed to examine relationships among students’ hearing loss, academic achievement and self-regulation (SR), classroom background noise levels, teachers’ perceptions of inclusion of students who are hard of hearing (HH) and features of classroom instruction that support SR. Data consisted of 10 elementary teachers’ perceptions of the inclusion, and ratings of 131 students’, of whom 8 were hard of hearing, SR and academic achievement scores. Classroom observations were conducted to obtain background noise levels and to examine whether and how teachers implement the features of classroom contexts to support SR within their classroom. Results indicated that a) hearing status predicted SR, b) SR predicted academic achievement for normal hearing (NH) and hard of hearing (HH) students, c) HH students’ received lower SR ratings than NH peers, and d) classroom background noise levels were negatively related to the use of features of instruction to support SR and to teachers’ knowledge and understanding of hearing loss. These results highlight the importance for further teacher education to emphasize a) the effects of hearing loss on learning and SR, b) the influence of classroom background noise levels on HH and NH students’ success, and c) effective strategies for creating an inclusive classroom