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Independent TD Carol Nolan has said there is a clear and urgent need to upgrade the consistency and quality of educational and homesupports for deaf and hard of hearing children and their families.
The Laois Offaly deputy, who is a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, was speaking after she took part in a roundtable discussion on the Education Needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students at Leinster House earlier today.
Among those represented at the roundtable were representatives from the deaf advocacy organisation, Chime, as well as the representatives from Irish Deaf Society (IDS) and Holy Family School for the Deaf:
“Today’s debate gave us all a very clear but stark insight into how far we still have to go in terms of even adequately supporting our deaf and hard of hearing children,” said Deputy Nolan.
“It became very clear to me from engaging with the representatives that major work needs to be carried out to address the operation of the Home Tuition Scheme in particular.”
“The current scheme is simply not fit for purpose and it must be transformed to allow for the appointment of deaf tutors, native Irish Sign Language signers, support and supervision services, quality management and proper guidance for families on the curriculum.”
“At the school level there must be a more consistent effort made to support the wider provision of Reasonable Accommodations at State Examinations (RACE) for deaf children and there absolutely needs to be a greater emphasis placed on the value of the Visiting Teacher for the Deaf, who I know from talking to families provide critical liaison skills.”
“There is also an obvious need to invest in deaf education research and teacher education because at present the only options available for teachers resulting in post graduate qualification are in Birmingham or Manchester universities.”
Finally, the Minister and the Department of Education must work to provide greater levels of financial support for interpreters in our schools because as things currently stand a school can pay an average of €13000 annually from the school capitation grant to provide these services,” concluded Deputy Nolan.
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