MAGAZINEMAGAZINE March 2004 ISSN 1366-0799 FocusFocus onon CommunicationCommunication From your editor It has been a very busy couple of months as Paul SImpson, my son Matthew and I have worked on the ‘new look’ website. Matthew has completed the design so that we can manage the site more easily independently and also so that it is easy for visitors to explore the pages. Thanks to those of you who have emailed us to say that you appreciate the changes and have found lots of new files and information to support you in your work. We now have an email address specifically for contacting us about the website - [email protected] - as we hope to keep the calendar up to date with brief details of courses and meetings. Just email the details of date, organisation, title and venue and we will add it (for free) to the calendar. Call for articles and suggestions for inclusion in future Magazines: Planning for forthcoming Magazines includes: The Teacher of the Deaf in the 21st Century; Deafness and Dyslexia; Creativity; Deaf Education in Europe and Worldwide; British Sign Language Consortium If you have short articles and photographs that will help expand the contents table please contact me and let me know as soon as possible. This doesn’t mean that articles about other topics and activities are not sought! PLEASE share your experiences and achievements with us - many of you are isolated as peris and to share ideas is an important form of personal professional development. The Magazine is a recognised leading vehicle for doing this. Do you share your Magazine with mainstream colleagues and LSAs? Why not encourage them to become Associate BATOD members then they can get their own copy of the Magazine? Ann website: www.BATOD.org.uk Magazine editor Our email addresses are easy to remember. CONTENTS They all end @BATOD.org.uk So the Magazine will be: Communicating with your baby ............................................. 2 Communication, Literacy and Inclusion ................................ 5 [email protected] All behaviour communicates - signs and symbols ................ 7 (check your spelling so you don’t fall into the black hole!) Voice Output Communication Aids ....................................... 11 Video conferencing revolutionising deaf education ............... 13 Phoning 01964 544243 Video interpreting in the workplace ....................................... 14 BATOD Magazine, Publications & Advertising? The big dilemma, ISDN versus broadband video technology.. 16 if no-one makes it to the phone to respond Using interactive whiteboards with deaf children ................... 17 ....PLEASE SPEAK How many languages can a young deaf child master? ........ 22 (don’t sigh and hang up!) Mathematics and deaf children: barriers to success ............ 24 LEAVE A MESSAGE Is vision care and assessment crucial? ............................... 35 or send a fax or even email Regular items and general information [email protected] An Ode WMGMC ................................................................ 25 Visit our web pages www.BATOD.org.uk IT for teachers ........................................................................ 27 Need to contact BATOD? Review - Alphabet Soup ........................................................ 29 talk to DCCAP two years on ............................................................. 30 BATOD Secretary Paul Simpson Global directory of deaf organisations ................................... 31 email: [email protected] Tanzania Workshop for parents of deaf children ................ 32 answerphone/fax 01494 464190 Agenda item 3: India ........................................................... 33 Deaf children’s mental wellbeing ........................................... 38 Boosting attainment ............................................................... 39 THRASS - whole-picture keyword phonics ........................... 40 Association Business: Anything is possible ............................................................... 41 ....and moving on ..................................................................... 1 Training day for professionals in Birmingham ..................... 42 Representing you ................................................................. 23 Abbreviations in this Magazine .............................................. 43 Subscription rates 2003-4 ....................................................... 51 This and That ......................................................................... 44 I’ve moved... notification form ................................................. 51 NATED news .......................................................................... 46 NDCS - Diamond anniversary ............................................... 46 Advertising rates ............................................................... 48 Concept mapping with Kidspiration Version 2 ....................... 47 Calendar - Meetings to know about .................................... 52 Noticeboard ............................................................................ 49 Officers of regions and nations............................. inside back cover Just to remind you - the term ‘deaf’ is used throughout this Magazine to cover the full range of hearing loss. Cover Picture Good communication interaction between the child and their family can be established at a much earlier stage, regardless of which communication method the parents may have opted for, or even if they have not yet decided (page 4). ...... and moving on David Hartley has completed four of his six years in the Presidential arena. Now he slides into the past President’s seat - a supporting role for two years. Carole Torrance takes the lead. Alison Weaver steps forwards as President-elect. This cycle ensures that we have a consistency of knowledge whilst encouraging a different approach. Carole has already discovered that some things don’t change... she was immediately hassled for the Presidential magazine column.... I feel honoured to be The other key roles identified by the management taking up the consultant were those of the Treasurer and presidency of BATOD Magazine Editor. Both these roles currently rely on for the next two years. the goodwill of the incumbents. These roles need I thank David Hartley reviewing, clarifying and setting on a business and previous footing which takes us securely into the future. Presidents for setting the pace and standard Committee Members are also a very important part to which I aspire. But of BATOD and attracting and encouraging members as any Head will say, to join NEC is vital for a healthy organisation. you are only as good BATOD represents the full spectrum of Deaf as the team you work Education and having that reflected in the with. This is true for composition of the NEC is essential. Joining the schools, services and NEC may seem a daunting prospect, but when BATOD. I joined I found a friendly group of colleagues with a wide range of knowledge that has informed my In education learning never stops for the teachers. thinking and approach to Deaf Education. You There is always more to discover, discuss then don't have to be in a promoted post to be a member absorb or discard. For me, BATOD is the of NEC, just willing to give a bit of time. Every professional organisation that gathers and supplies member has this opportunity so watch the me with new information, legislation details and magazine and website for details. examples of best practice and disseminates this to Teachers of the Deaf throughout the UK and Finally as the first Scottish President of BATOD, beyond. BATOD achieves this through our website I would like to acknowledge that our differences can - www.BATOD.org.uk - our Magazine, our Journal, be strengths as we share the common pursuit of Deafness and Education International and our 'Excellence in Deaf Education'. conferences at national and regional levels. BATOD is not a dinosaur. To survive, this organisation has adapted and changed in order to remain robust. We, on BATOD's National Executive Committee (NEC), need to evaluate our role and ensure that our format meets the needs of our membership in the 21st century. Changes need to be made and these may be quite radical. We have taken advice from Management Consultants who gave us their time and advice without charge. If we are to remain an effective professional organisation, we need to heed their advice and secure three key roles - Secretary, Treasurer and Magazine Editor. We have already made our organisation more effective by having a paid part-time secretary. Paul Simpson is able to receive information and email Antonette Burns presents Wilma Mc Creary with a bouquet to mark her retirement as Head of Service for the South Eastern this on to committee members and collate Education & Library Board. Wilma has taught some 42 years, responses. We now have a faster response time to 37 with deaf children! She has been 16 years as HOS SEELB. all mail, enquiries and follow up reports on Wilma has been a very active member of BATOD NI for many years (and its predecessor before that!). She was secretary meetings. three times and spent many years as a committee member (see page 25). ©BATOD Magazine March 04 1 Communicating with your baby Hilary Sutherland The introduction of the National Newborn Hearing As we have said, all of these decisions do have to Screening programme has resulted in more babies be made at some stage, but it is equally important being diagnosed with hearing loss at a