The Benefits Of Deaf Education

Deaf education is tailored specifically to match the need of the deaf or Hard of Hearing student. Deaf or Hard of Hearing students are entitled to a quality education, at the same level of academics with equal curriculum requirements as any hearing student would receive (“Deaf Education”). When it comes to communication with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the most common method is sign language. Each Country and region has their own type of sign language (“Communication Modes”). A deaf child may be educated in one of the following methods, Bilingual communication, total communication or Oral communication.

First, Bilingual communication is one of the top forms of communication used in education. It entails teaching sign language

SIgn Day schools incorporate sign language whereas Oral day schools focus more on oral and auditory skills. Like residential schools, these day schools are exclusive to students somewhere on the deaf spectrum, providing a community of students that all have something in common. The students receive an education fit to achieve their personal goals and to help them achieve academic success. Although, these schools may have limited availability due to relative location. Most of these day schools are located in highly populated cities and metropolitan cities. Day schools can also be very expensive because they are usually privatized

Mainstreaming usually happens in a public school, either in a regular classroom or in a separate atmosphere. This option is a controversial method in which the Deaf or Hard of Hearing students are integrated with hearing students. Because Deafness is considered a “Low Incidence” disability, meaning that the concentration of deaf children in any given area is low, there is limited funding for mainstreaming programs. Most students are mainstreamed into a regular classroom, with or without additional support. In a regular classroom, the student is with hearing students and all instruction comes from the main classroom teacher(s). In this instance, there is little to no additional support inside the classroom. Although, if in-class support is something that the child needs, the is an option to have added support in the classroom. Mainstreaming in a regular classroom with additional support services places the student in a classroom with hearing students along with an speech or language therapist, interpreter, additional teacher, teaching consultant or a teacher of the deaf. This support may come from inside the classroom, in which the helper co-teaches or work one on one with the deaf student while the teacher addresses the whole class. In contrast, it may come from outside the classroom like meetings after class