Making Activities Deaf Friendly
Hampshire Inspiring Inclusion Conference 2013
Introductions
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Name
Organisation I am from
My experience of deafness
What I would like to get out of the
training?
• Sign name
Aims
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Understanding of NDCS
Understanding of deafness
Awareness of communication
Confidence to fully include deaf children and
young
• Future support, advice and information and the
knowledge to develop an action plan
Activity
Group to line up in order of birth date
(day and month only) –
without using any verbal communication
Introduction to NDCS and Me2
About NDCS
The National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) is the national charity
dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and
young people.
We believe that:
• Every deaf child has the right to the same opportunities as
a hearing child
• Every deaf child has the right to be included and valued by
society
• Families have the right to make informed choices on behalf of
their deaf child and for those choices to be implemented
• Families have the right to clear and balanced information and
support, delivered in a way that is accessible to them
What do we do?
NDCS offers a range of services to deaf children and their
families which include:
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Information and resources
Children’s Events
Me2 project
Network of Local Deaf Children’s Societies (LDCS’s)
Free phone Helpline
Listening Bus
Family Officers & Casework Team
Campaigns
Family Events & much more!
Is about getting deaf children & young deaf
people to stand up and say Me2!
Providing opportunities for deaf children to take part in a
range of mainstream leisure activities with hearing
children through making sure they are deaf friendly
Me2 pledge
• Being deaf friendly
• Promoting effective communication
• Recognising the abilities of all deaf
children and young people and helping
them reach their full potential
• Provide equal playing and social
opportunities for deaf children and
young people
Deafness what is it?
Activity
Fact or fiction!
Statements about deafness
Move to the side of the room to indicate
whether you think the statement is
FACT or FICTION
Statistics around deafness
• Estimated 10 million deaf or hard of hearing people in
the UK (source Action On Hearing Loss formally known as RNID)
• There are 45,000 deaf children in the UK
• 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents
• 40% of deaf children have additional needs.
• Four babies are born deaf every day.
Activity
Describing deafness
In groups put the terms into two separate
categories
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“Acceptable” terms
“Unacceptable” terms
Activity
Acceptable
• Profoundly deaf
• Deafened
• Deaf people
• Totally deaf
• Partially deaf
• Hard of hearing
Terms that some
people find
offensive
• Hearing loss
• Hearing
impaired
• Disabled
Unacceptable
• The deaf
• Deaf and dumb
• Deaf and mute
• Deafie
• Deafo
NDCS’ description of
deafness
“NDCS uses the term ‘deaf’ to mean all
types of deafness, including temporary
deafness such as glue ear.”
Level of
deafness
dB
With hearing aids
Without hearing aids
Mild
20 –
40
Some children have
hearing aids
-May hear in a quiet room
-May not hear a whispered conversation
Moderate
41 –
70
Most children wear hearing
aids
-May hear most of what someone says to
them in a quiet room as long as that
person speaks clearly
Severe
71 –
95
Most children wear hearing
aids.
May need additional
support in groups or noisy
rooms
-May hear loud sounds
Profound
more Most children use hearing
than aids or cochlear implants.
95
Some use signing as their
main method of
communication or to
support their understanding
-May not hear people talking to them
-Cannot hear someone talking to them,
but may hear or feel very
loud sounds
Remember..
• Every person’s ability to hear is different
• The degree of deafness in either ear can vary
• Spend time beforehand getting to know your
participants and understand precisely how
much they can hear and their communication
support needs
Barriers
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Physical
Social
Technical
Psychological
Communication,
communication,
communication
Activity
Communication
Activities to realise and understand your
communication skills
Communication methods
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Auditory – oral / oral approach
Lipreading – ability to read lip patterns
British Sign Language
Signed Supported English (SSE)
Signed English (SE)
Makaton
Fingerspelling
Fingerspelling alphabet
BSL
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Hello / goodbye
Yes / no
Please / thank you
Welcome / how are you?
What is your name / my name is ....
Activities / sport
Communication methods
It is essential to ask the deaf child or
young person what their preferred
communication method is!
Technology and deafness
Technology
• Sport can be played with or without hearing aids
• Hearing aids
• Cochlear implants
• Lights system (eg starting a race)
Technology available
Practical adaptations
Adapting Activities
What activities do you do at your club /
group / organisation?
How can you support deaf children and
young people more effectively?
Tips for welcoming a
deaf child to your group
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Have a named deaf friendly contact to welcome the child to the group
Invite them to observe a session before joining
Provide a short awareness session for hearing group members
Clearly ask the child about their preferred communication method!
Encourage them to bring a friend or sibling with them
Allow parents to stay for the first few sessions (if they want to) to help them
settle in
Create a who’s who board with pictures and a visual timetable – this will be
useful for everyone who joins
If the child requires signing support ask the parents if they can help or
recommend anyone that can (if not contact NDCS to see if we can match up one
of our volunteers)
When arranging trips, days out or special sessions, hand out the information on
slips of paper..
Why not learn to fingerspell or to sign
National & Local
Opportunities
• UK Deaf Sport – www.ukdeafsport.org.uk
• NDCS Me2 deaf-friendly project – www.ndcs.org.uk/me2
• Find your local club deaf-friendly club –
www.ndcs.org.uk/findaclub (why not sign up yourself?)
• Find your local deaf children’s society –
www.ndcs.org.uk/localgroups
• Inspire your deaf participants – www.dspy.co.uk
Action Plan
• Do you already have deaf participants attending your club? Could you
support them more effectively?
• Can you actively promote your club to the deaf community as being deaf
friendly?
• How will you support deaf people into your club?
• Will your communication within your coaching change?
• Can you disseminate the key points so your whole club is deaf friendly?
• Are there national or local organisations you can contact for further
information?
www.ndcs.org.uk/me2
me2@ndcs.org.uk