Deaf Education vs. Mainstream Education - Kathryn

This post was written by my 16 year old Deaf friend Kathryn who is currently agonizing over whether or not she should apply to our local council for funding to go to Mary Hare Sixth Form.

As a lifelong main-streamer Kathryn knows all the ups and downs of mainstream school life as a profoundly Deaf teen but she fell in love with Mary Hare's unique environment when she visited a few years ago.

I hope you enjoy her moving post because it certainly resonated strongly with me... 

The way in which society educates deaf people has evolved throughout generations.  There was a time when deaf people were taught at deaf schools only, using the strategy of BSL, then BSL was banned in deaf education and deaf people were forced to speak. They were punished if they chose to sign as it was forbidden anywhere on school grounds.

BIG MISTAKE! 

By making them speak they felt like they lost their freedom, the freedom to embrace their deaf culture.

But have we learned from our mistakes?

Over time more deaf schools have been closed and deaf people have been sent to mainstream schools and have been taught orally.  Deaf people are now seen as part of the hearing world.  We have to learn English yet BSL isn’t taught.

We are seen as “deaf and dumb” this is NOT true, we can achieve anything in life if we put our minds to it. 

But shouldn’t we have the choice as to where we’re educated? 

The mainstream environment can cause deaf people to feel isolated, with lower confidence and self esteem but of course this doesn’t apply to everyone many deaf students thrive in a mainstream school and many don’t let their deafness get in the way of their goals and will continue to achieve their potential, with the right support and equipment.

But why should we have “special equipment” and have a TA sat next to us, and be seen as the odd one out, the one who’s disabled? Well, we’re deaf not disabled. Wouldn’t you like not to constantly battle for the right hours of support or equipment? 

Well, none of this matters, no battles are needed.   

Doesn’t society encourage equality? 

We should have the choice, the option to be educated in a deaf environment where you’re all treated equally, not being treated any different; not being singled out or having advantages because of your deafness. 

Not having to worry about explaining to a supply teacher how a radio aid works, or having to stick your hand up, embarrassed because you couldn’t hear what the teacher has said. No bullying towards your deafness. 

The deaf education is tailored to students who are deaf, with special group hearing aids, specialist teachers of the deaf. Deaf education allows deaf people to be themselves and forget their deafness, immerse themselves into a world of like-minded people, people who understand them, allowing them to feel “normal”, and also to develop their love for education again. Therefore, increasing self esteem and confidence.

The reason why we don’t see many deaf schools open and very few deaf students applying to go to deaf education is because of cuts and lack of funding. Why should our futures be decided by our LA’s?  However, there is a wide amount of support available in a mainstream environment but the quality of support is arguably varied. 

Wouldn’t you like the option to choose; mainstream or deaf education? You should have the choice to embrace your deaf culture, to decide how you want to lead your life, for you only live life once. So you should think about what’s best for you, and take the opportunity by both hands.

"Pimping" our Hearing Aids and "Jazzing Up" our CIs...

This is a -much- longer copy of an article posted on the Limping Chicken website today, its an update to my previous post "Adult Audiology"...I wanted to post it on here as well so that I could showcase everyone's pictures and comments!

Back in April I wrote a post entitled “Pimping My Hearing Aids” which was all about my adventures into adult audiology services and how disappointed I was that I was no longer allowed to have the colourful hearing aids I love. 

With some inspiration from one of the “NDCS Mums” on Facebook I went out and bought myself some red and white polka dot nail foil stickers and set about decorating my hearing aids.

At the time I uploaded pictures to Facebook, Twitter and to my own blog alongside the same piece of writing that featured on here. The response was pretty impressive! Lots of parents, teenagers and audiologists commented on the blog post and pictures saying how cool the hearing aids looked and how they thought it was a good idea. 

Two months on and I’m proud to say that I feel as if I’ve been part of a new trend in hearing aid design with new looks ranging from simple flowery stickers on already coloured aids and  colourful ear-gear to full out jubilee decoration with frequent changes of design to match different outfits. 

 

I’m also pleased to say that the decoration craze has now spread beyond “pimping your hearing aids” and into “jazzing up your CIs (cochlear implants)”. Designs involve not only decoration of processors but also the addition of stickers or hair clips to the coil. 

Please note – some of these designs, frankly, make my hearing aids look boring...

 

Although all this decoration is great fun there is a more serious note to this new craze. I asked parents and teenagers to explain to me why they thought “pimping their hearing aids/implants” was important either for themselves or for their child. 

Gabi (aged 12) told me that having hearing aids that were pink (her favourite colour) made her more likely to wear them than if they were plain and boring. 

One proud mum told me that she first “pimped” her daughter’s hearing aids while they were waiting for colourful ones from audiology. She told me about her memories of having NHS plastic glasses and how embarrassed she was. She wants her daughter to grow up to be “proud of her awesome magic ears”! 

Two 19 year old friends told me that personalising their hearing aids made them feel fashionable and that

 “as a young person with hearing difficulties it can be embarrassing to accept that we’re different, having equipment which we can influence the design of will make us feel more comfortable and we more likely to wear hearing aids”. 

I’ve also been told that being able to match or compliment your outfit with your hearing aids as well as your hair/make up is very cool! 

Finally, I was amazed at the flood of comments I received from the “NDCS mums” after I posed my questions on Facebook! Here’s some of what they told me: 

“I think it lets them show their personality and have ownership of their aids so they know nobody else has anything like them. Personal expression of taste!”

“They are more fun for him, I can see them when he’s chucked them in temper, and others can see them so they are aware he's deaf and to speak to him face to face or at least help them understand why his speech is slurred!”

“We are also very proud of her magic ears and everyone loves the different designs she models, they represent who Lucie is a very bright & bubbly little girl who is proud of her CI's magic ears.”

On a personal note I strongly believe that the adult audiology line of “only adults with mental health issues or additional learning difficulties may have coloured aids” is a bit weak. As a teenager or young adult the ability and opportunity to express yourself in any way possible is so important. Nobody wants to go through high school, university or even work with boring old “grandparent/artificial limb” coloured hearing aids. Deaf young people have enough problems overcoming differences between themselves and their hearing peers without throwing boring, old fashioned hearing aids into the mix... 

So - listen up audiology services, hearing aid manufacturers and anybody wanting to start a business that could well make them some money! 

Many cochlear implants now-a-days come with “sleeves” which can be changed to give different coloured processers depending on the mood. Where are our hearing aid sleeves? 

Or if “sleeves” are impractical I can see a rather large market out there for hearing aid and CI sized/shaped foil stickers!! 

Maybe I should apply to be on Dragon’s Den..? 

I’m I did promise people that I would showcase all of the “pimped designs”! So below is a gallery of the coolest hearing aids and CIs in town! 

I just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to all the amazing and inspirational "NDCS mums" who gave me so much feedback and sent me endless pictures of their children's very very cool hearing aids! :)

If you're interested click HERE to go to the Ear Gear website - a very cool and funky way to decorate your hearing aids as well as keeping them safe from dirt, water etc!
Also, an American company called OtoCool make a product called "Tube Riders" which are a fun way to make the tubes of your hearing aids a bit funky... Click HERE for the link! :)