BATOD’s 2020 Conference – ‘Researching the Future’
Date: 14 March 2020
Location: Frank Barnes School for the Deaf – London
Doors open from 9am, allowing time to browse our exhibitor space and grab a cuppa before the opening presentations at 10am.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Helen Willis was completely deafened by meningococcal meningitis as a toddler and received a cochlear implant (CI) at the age of three (in 1994). Helen was educated orally, initially in a Hearing Impaired Resource Base in a mainstream primary school and then at Mary Hare School for the Deaf. She also learnt sign language and is comfortable using BSL. Helen gained a First Class Honours Degree in Physiology and Psychology and an MSc in Neuroscience from Oxford University (St. John’s College). She completed her PhD in Speech, Hearing and Phonetic Sciences at University College London (UCL) in 2018. Her research was funded by Action on Hearing Loss and Cochlear UK. The key focus was exploring means to measure listening effort experienced by CI users. Helen’s current interest is the influence of the subconscious mind on health and well-being. She is presently working part-time as a Senior Programme Administrator at the University of Reading, to support herself whilst training to be a Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist.
Presentation abstract
Cochlear implantation is essentially cyborg technology, because it requires close co-operation between the device and the biological functioning of the recipient. The future success of this partnership depends on generating a greater understanding of the impact of the cochlear implant on cognitive functioning and mental and physical well being. Current evidence from neuroscience research suggests that demand for cognitive resources is increased in CI users, compared to their hearing peers. This increases the risk of cognitive overload and the initiation of a chronic stress response, causing changes in the functioning of the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands (HPA disruption), which can lead to physical and mental health problems. This pattern of HPA disruption can be averted if greater attention is paid to means of managing the available cognitive capacity of CI users, to reduce the likelihood of cognitive overload. The “Go for Gold” strategy identifies three interventions: (1) Golden Silences; (2) Golden Opportunities and (3) Gold Star Support, which are designed to prevent the potential damage of a chronic stress response and make the best use of available cognitive resources, in order to optimise the potential for learning and achievement. Future interventions, however, need to attempt to address the mismatch between primitive physiological protective mechanisms (i.e. caveman physiology) and the demands of cyborg technology. Subconscious mechanisms are a possible route to promoting healthy co-existence. Hypnotherapy and psychotherapy, therefore, may have a role in the future management of cyborg generations to enable them to live in harmony with their technology.
Emmie Wienhoven from Kentalis International – Literacy for Deaf and hard of hearing children in Uganda and Tanzania
BIOGRAPHY
Emmie Wienhoven MSc. has a background in Sign Linguistics and International Development Studies, focussing on the linguistic and educational rights of Deaf children. As a Project Manager for the international projects of Royal Dutch Kentalis they manage projects in Zambia, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. All their projects are aimed at achieving equitable quality education for Deaf learners and mainly focus on literacy.
Presentation abstract
During a 5 year project Royal Dutch Kentalis is working with a variety of Ugandan and Tanzanian experts to improve the literacy skills of young Deaf children in pre-school and the first 3 years of primary education.
Our project took place in Uganda and Tanzania where Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children have very low enrolment rates (<5%) and many of those in school will drop out or leave without fulfilling the requirements for secondary education due to poor results at their final examination. Children often start school at age six, for DHH learners (who sometimes start even later due to the stigmatizing misconception that they are unable to learn) this means that they often have no or very limited access to language and communication prior to coming to school. However the curriculum is based on existing linguistic comprehension, and communication skills. This means that children are often expected to read to learn before they have learned to read, resulting in limited access to school curriculum.
Most often, teachers have not received specific training in teaching literacy to DHH learners, even if they have a degree in Special Needs Education. Therefore, they lack the specific knowledge and skills, an issue this project has set out to tackle.
In our five year project we developed a toolkit for teachers to support them to understand the strengths and needs of the DHH children in their classroom, adapt their lessons, and apply specific teaching methods to be in line with the strengths and needs of the DHH learners in their classroom. We targeted teachers in the first three years of primary education as well as those teaching pre-school classes where available, focusing on communication and language development, DHH specific teaching skills, and DHH specific reading instruction. Forty-eight teachers from a total of eight pilot schools in Uganda and Tanzania were trained on the use of the toolkit with the help of ten specifically trained Reading Coaches. These coaches were also trained in Video Interaction Guidance to provide in-service support during implementation.
During this presentation I will share how this project is about so much more than reading and delve deeper into the different aspects of the Reading Method. Furthermore, the challenges of working within and existing curriculum, and strategies to ensure acceptability, applicability and accessibility of the project and its products will be discussed.
Conference workshop and presentations can be found here – https://www.batod.org.uk/batod-national-conference-2020-programme-and-abstracts/
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If you have any questions or seek further information please contact us at conferencecommittee@batod.org.uk
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