A Silent Education

A Silent Education

I’ve had the privilege of being friends with some incredible Deaf individuals from an older generation who have shared their school experiences with me. They grew up at a time when Australian Sign Language (Auslan) wasn’t accepted as a form of communication in schools, whether in the classroom or on the playground. The focus was heavily on teaching Deaf children to speak orally, and lip read, often making school a difficult and confusing environment for them. They weren’t allowed to sign to each other, which greatly limited communication between students and teachers. It’s hard to imagine how challenging it must have been to learn subjects like Maths or English without being able to communicate effectively, or how isolating it must have felt to be surrounded by other Deaf children but unable to sign.

Many Deaf students were also required to wear old-style hearing aids that included a transistor box worn over the chest with shoulder straps, which restricted their ability to run and play sports. For some Deaf children born into hearing families, Auslan wasn’t introduced to them until they were older. One friend didn’t learn Auslan until he was 10, when someone finally explained to him what being Deaf meant.

Today, inclusive education is becoming a priority in Australia. The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards Act 2005 emphasise that students with disabilities must be given the same educational opportunities as their non-disabled peers. Inclusive education means that students with disabilities should have every opportunity and the necessary support to fully participate in their education, alongside their peers of the same age who do not have disabilities. This approach is proving to be beneficial, leading to improved educational outcomes for all students.

So, what does school look like for Deaf students in Australia today? Auslan is now embraced both in and out of the classroom, with a strong focus on communication. A variety of Teaching Strategy Adjustments are provided, such as using an Auslan interpreter, seating the student at the front of the classroom with good lighting and a clear line of vision, adding captions to videos, and providing information in written form. The Inspire – Learning with Diversity application supports inclusive teaching practices by giving teachers access to a database of suggested Teaching Strategy Adjustments and assisting in creating Individual Learning Plans tailored to the unique needs of each child with special needs.

We’re on an exciting journey towards inclusive education in Australia, and it’s encouraging to see how these changes are positively impacting the lives and educational outcomes of all students. For those interested in learning more about the experiences of Deaf individuals in South Australia, I recommend watching the documentary *The Silent World of Barry Priori: Signing Not Waving*.

This article was written by Kristen Fleming, Product Manager of Inspire – Learning with Diversity at SRA.