Complex Needs Bromley Builds for the Future VIEW – Promoting Support for Visual Impairment Communication Choices Following Cochlear Implantation
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cover.qxp 12/2/09 09:12 Page 1 British Association of Teachers of the Deaf MAGAZINE • March 2009 • ISSN 1336-0799 • www.BATOD.org.uk Complex needs Bromley builds for the future VIEW – promoting support for visual impairment Communication choices following cochlear implantation Join BATOD to get THE Magazine for professionals working with deaf children batod_ifc.qxp 12/2/09 09:14 Page 12 batod_contents.qxp 12/2/09 09:17 Page 1 Contents From your editor Complex needs Over recent years more and more I’m sorry, what was the question? 4 Teachers of the Deaf have found A Norfolk tale 7 themselves working with deaf In addition to deafness… 10 children with additional and increasingly complex needs. The At the weekends 12 survival of children who previously The Seashell commitment 14 would not have survived and the growing numbers of Patience rewarded 16 deaf children with complex needs in schools for the Sound teaching 17 deaf, other special schools and indeed in mainstream Finding the best curriculum 18 schools demand that Teachers of the Deaf widen their The Nottingham Special Branch 20 knowledge and skills in working with this very special Sensory integration 22 and heterogeneous group of children. Considering the options 24 This edition of the Magazine looks at a number of Getting personal 26 aspects of the subject, including children with ASD, A dual task 27 mental health issues, music, the curriculum in general The ABC of AAC 28 20 and PSHCE in particular, intervenors, support for parents and training teachers of children with MSI. Clearly, many General features of the articles pose more questions than they answer The Deafax Virtual Network 30 but we hope that they will stimulate further thought and A building ambition 31 exploration. As ever, we are very happy to hear from colleagues who have different or additional points of view Switching codes? 32 to those they read in the Magazine. Let me know if you Looking in, looking out 34 would like to write an article yourself on any aspect of Leading to linguistic independence 36 this subject for future editions. Happy Birthday, Louis 38 30 Every edition of the Magazine has a specific topic (and Regulars these can be seen in the Publications section of our Reviews 49 website) but articles and features on topics unrelated to ICT news 50 that theme are also very much welcomed so please submit your articles for consideration at any time. This and that 52 Abbreviations and acronyms 54 Finally, please consider whether you have anything Calendar – meetings and training 56 50 to offer to forthcoming Magazines (topics itemised below) – send your ideas to [email protected]. Association business Flying high 3 Forthcoming topics: A special teacher 39 May Inclusion – making a difference September Audiology Time for celebration? 40 November Mental health Reasons to join 41 January 2010 Assessment and value added Points of view 42 March Implementing Quality Standards BATOD was there representing you… 43 Representing you – NDCS 46 A comfortable fit 48 Change of address notification form 55 Magazine editor Subscription rates 2008/09 55 Officers of Nations and Regions inside back cover 39 Need to contact BATOD Cover picture about other matters? Kian Murphy and his mother Sam, courtesy of the Eastern Daily Press. Talk to National Secretary Paul Simpson email: [email protected] answerphone/fax 0845 6435181 batod_2.qxp 12/2/09 09:37 Page 12 batod_3.qxp 12/2/09 09:38 Page 1 Association business Flying high As BATOD continues to work to improve the channels of communication to all ToDs, Ann Underwood outlines some of the latest initiatives underway ooking back at these columns over the past website pages are often visited we would still four issues shows that BATOD has been appreciate more responses to the questions that L making strides on behalf of its members – and we raise on the members’ noticeboard in the incidentally for other ToD colleagues too. Stressing members only section of the website. to colleagues the value of BATOD’s work at higher levels and how joining BATOD can help is everyone’s Maybe life is so busy that you can only take some responsibility. We want to represent all ToDs! information on a ‘need to know basis’? Perhaps information sent through official channels gets put BATOD does not work in isolation from its key on one side and forgotten about? Do you get an partners. Since SERSEN transformed into SESIP annual calculation of pay and were you one of a significant number of initiatives have been those last year who found that your protected status undertaken in close collaboration with BATOD, had disappeared? Peter Preston, our consultant, and SESIP has remained at the hub of sensory discovered that due to case law, some changes developments. Our President-elect, Gary Anderson, removed certain types of protection and thus the is working in close liaison with Lindsey Rousseau permanent protection payment in lieu of the ToD as Chair of the Task Group, and Paul Simpson allowance has now ceased to exist. represents BATOD on the working group considering data collection. David Couch, another NEC member, There have been many cries for help from small is chairing a group looking at mental health issues. services as their structure appears to be threatened Other BATOD members are contributing to the many by LA reorganisation. It has been agreed that a other working groups. This liaison adds strength to tick sheet of possible actions and ideas should be the work of BATOD and enables us to extend our produced as soon as possible to assist generally as collaborative working, increasing our involvement BATOD members build their case. A simple ‘Have with colleagues working with children with VI and MSI you done…?’ has already helped services to develop and ensuring that BATOD does not become isolated confidence and see the situation differently. within its own area of interest. The concept of regional and national groups has Discussions with the DCSF have borne some fruit been to provide support on a more local basis for and there will soon be an announcement about those individual ToDs who may feel isolated and funding to support the training of ToDs wishing to unable to travel to national meetings. Increasingly, acquire the Mandatory Qualification. The specific even regional travel, especially for evening or short mechanisms for this are still being considered. meetings, is becoming a logistical nightmare. Members in Norfolk and surrounding counties have Our discussions with NDCS, especially over the suggested that it might be possible to have a BATOD recent campaign ‘Must Do Better’, were published East region instead of being part of the ‘South’ in January’s Magazine – but following on from that or ‘Midland’. As ever there is an organisational there have been positive discussions with Brian Gale challenge which is being considered. Members in about other NDCS initiatives and BATOD’s views Eastern England are invited to contact me about this have been taken on board. These include a working ([email protected]) and the idea can be group to produce guidance related to phonics in the progressed further… ensuring that ToDs continue Literacy Strategy. to fly high. When I made my inaugural speech at last year’s AGM in Wandsworth I stressed the need for us to use all the communication links available to ensure that those people leading BATOD forward on the NEC know what their colleagues across the membership are thinking. Paul Simpson keeps the documentation links up to date and easy for members to access. Although we know which ©BATOD Magazine • March 2009 • 3 batod_4,5,6.qxp 12/2/09 09:40 Page 12 Complex needs I’m sorry, what was the question? Wendy McCracken discusses the issues surrounding deaf children with additional or complex needs n thinking about additional or complex needs in intervention. While a number of professionals may deaf children and young people, every Teacher be involved in assessment, the aspect of deafness Iof the Deaf or learning support assistant (LSA) is and its impact on learning is a ToD’s expert area and likely to have a specific individual in mind. Inevitably should always be part of the wider assessment the challenges of heterogeneity, individual experience process. and expectations make this area difficult to tackle. Such challenges should not, however, be confused In practice with inaction or a reduced level of service. A range of areas need to be checked, confirmed and assessed. Audiological assessment of children A useful starting point may be to reflect on the impact who are developing atypically is complex. Many of a degree of hearing loss on any learner: reduced audiologists have received minimal training in this frequency discrimination, increased susceptibility to area and the test protocols, while providing an noise, a raised threshold and reduced dynamic range appropriate starting point, will need to be supported for hearing. It is logical to make the assumption that by information from those who are most familiar listening effort is considerably more demanding for with the child. Specialist skills, knowledge and anyone who has a hearing loss. So, what of the understanding of pre-verbal communication ideally impact on any child who has clearly identified needs place ToDs with this group of learners. in addition to deafness? A very clichéd phrase sums • Assess the individual child’s communication skills, up deafness and additional or complex needs: ‘not a check with the school on the communication policy simple addition of parts but a multiplier effect that and with the speech and language therapist (if there results in a more complex challenge’.