Expert Proposes New Education ‘Hubs’ for Deaf Children

An expert recently said there is a need to dedicate hubs for Deaf children nationwide to offer new social spaces, learning, and support.

Specifically, special schools for Deaf children have had a vital role in the Deaf community, functioning as venues where individuals can meet and together, learn British Sign Language or BSL.

However, the change to all-encompassing education and new technology like the "cochlear implants" means, most kids with hearing loss now study in mainstream schools.

In a study published in the British Education Research Journal, Dr. Hannah Anglin-Jaffe argued, Deaf education needs to be remodeled to substitute the role formerly provided by specialist schools that have already closed.

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The 'Hubs'

Dr. Anglin-Jaffe recommended that Deaf education and support could be provided just as how the currently-run provision in schools, as well as other social spaces, libraries, or community centers, are.

These hubs, Anglin-Jaffe added, could function as "new reiteration of the special school for Deaf and host Deaf clubs," specialist provision, pastoral support, and local activity.

The hubs could offer proficiency in visual learning approaches and sign language tuition for kids, including their families. They could facilitate a venue for meetings as well, for Deaf people, regardless of age.

The hubs would function in collaboration with mainstream schools, as well as the Deaf's peripatetic Teachers, to give access to the comprehensive mainstream course.

Dr. Anglin-Jaffe also said, there is a need for access for Deaf children to culture and sign language while keeping the positive attainments of inclusive practice like "raised expectations, family and community belonging and high academic achievement."

According to statistics, there is currently not enough provision for Deaf children in mainstream schools. Therefore, there is a need to look for new social spaces that will address the needs of both Deaf children and adults.

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An Answer to Specialist School Closures

Many specialist schools have closed, and those that have stayed open are said to have once faced closure. These schools are also supporting kids who have "complex and additional needs."

Each time a school is threatened to close, there is a mobilization of grassroots activism from the Deaf community, which exhibits intense feelings of loyalty from the Deaf community, including parents, students, and staff.

The main features of Dr. Anglin-Jaffe's proposed Deaf education hubs would be the aptitude or capability for Deaf children to meet and socialize with their peers through the use of sign language.

Having hubs would protect culturally significant places, not to mention social spaces for both Deaf children and adults.

Furthermore, hubs could be put in places where Deaf children could benefit from their access to BSL. More so, setting up could be coordinated by the local officials and social enterprises.

New hubs withing communities, Dr. Anglin-Jaffe reiterated, could offer not just social space and access to peer groups but linguistic support, as well.

He added, Deaf children would be able to spend part of their time being educated and socializing in hubs, and most of it spent in mainstream schools local to their families.

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