Deaf Education, Cultural Aspects of Hearing and Communication: Czech Republic Radka Horáková Masaryk University , Brno Faculty of Education Department of Special Education Email: horakova.radka@gmail.com Masaryk University in Brno • Founded: 1919 • Staff: 4700 • Faculties: 9 • Students: 42000 Organization chart of Masaryk University and its disability services Masaryk University General institutes and offices Rector's Office Faculties Faculty of Arts Faculty of Sciences Faculty of Law Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Education Faculty of Social Studies Faculty of Informatics Faculty of Economics Faculty of Sports Hostels and Canteens Institute of Computer Services Support Centre for Students with Special Needs Faculty of Education – Department of Special Education • The Department of Special Education was founded on 1st Sept. 1994. • The main aim of the department is to prepare future teachers with regard to current trends. It reflex the current focus on integration of children with special needs and learning difficulties in to mainstream schools and institutions. Faculty of Education – Department of Special Education Students can graduate with Bachelor or Master Degrees in Special Education: • Education of individuals with visual impairment • Education of individuals with physical disabilities • Education of individuals with mental retardation • Deaf Education • Learning disabilities and behavioral disorders • Speech Pathology Support Centre for Students with Special Needs The mission of the Centre is to grant accessibility to students with sensory and other disabilities to all study programs and subjects accredited at the Masaryk University in Brno. Deaf students at the Masaryk University Services for deaf students • Methodical guidance for interpreters using special terminology in Czech sign language – math., IT, biology, special education, etc. Special terminology in Czech sign language • Special terminology in Czech sign language – special education Services for deaf students • Czech sign language interpreting, signing exact Czech interpreting and note-taking services in seminars and lectures as well as in official communication within the University. • Special tuition of various courses according to individual needs in Czech sign language and/or in Czech language via chat. • There are around 10 million citizens in Czech Republic. • There are around 300,000 individuals with hearing loss in CR. • A majority of these people are persons in whom the hearing impairment occurred in advanced age. • There are around 7,000 deaf people (deaf/Deaf). Persons with hearing loss in CR We still face difficulties with late detection of children’s hearing loss. We don’t have Universal Newborn Hearing Screening in all hostipals. The situation of children with HL in CR • TEOAE or DPOAE • Tympanometry • ABR, NNABR • ERA, CERA • SSEP • VRA • Audiometry • The audiologist/phoniatr receives training as the otolaryngologist in the first place… Hearing tests Despite the fact that there is no comprehensive hearing testing of newborn babies in the CZ, there exists a system of early intervention. Early intervetion Centers of Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers with HL: • 1. Centers are generally established in schools for children with HL - 13 • 2. Non-profit organization - 2 • There are 13 schools for students with HL in CR. The schools for deaf • There are 2 centers for cochlear implantion for children and adults – Prague, Brno • The number of deaf children with CI is growing, about 500. There are around 180 deaf adults with CI. Cochlear implants Educational System in the USA • Day Care Center … from 6 weeks…. • Preschool 4–6 • Elementary school 6–11 • Middle school 11–14 • High school 14–18 • College or University 18–23..... Educational System in the CZ • Maternity leave… • Preschool 3–6 • Elementary/Middle School 6–14 • High School 14–18 • University 18 –..... System of education • Students with HL can be mainstreamed or attend the special schools for deaf. • Day-school or residential schools for deaf consist of preschool, elementary school, and 6 of them consist of high school as well. • Methods in deaf education: 2 schools – bilingual access 1 school – oral method rest – total communication The schools for deaf • For 10 years. • Deaf and hearing teachers, or deaf assistants working together with hearing teachers. • Once a year there is a big sports competition for all schools. The elementary schools for deaf • Historically there were very few possibilities for deaf students – usually only the crafts. • Presently the deaf student can also graduate with these certifications or degrees: • Grammar school (general studies), 4 years • Pre-school education, • Graphic designer, • Assistant of dental laboratory, • Information technology in economy, • Computer systems and Applied electrotechnics, • Hotel management and Travel industry The high schools • Deaf people can study anything, but there is no guarantee that interpreters will be available. • In Czech Republic there are two University programs special for Deaf students but also for hearing students too: • 1. Established in 1992 – Dramatic Art (in Brno) • 2. Established in 1998 – Deaf Studies (in Prague, with a major in the linguistics of sign language) The university education for deaf students • Linguistic research of Czech sign language began in 1993. • People with HL in CR have free-of-charge services of an interpreter for the purposes of a medical appointment, administration negotiations and for securing other needs based on the law No. 155/1998 and No. 384/2008 of systems of communication of deaf and deafblind people. Law for systems of communication for deaf and deafblind people There are 4 organizations of sign language interpreters in the Czech Republic: 1. The Organization of Sign Language Interpreters 2. The Czech Association of Sign Language Interpreters 3. The National Council of interpreters and sign language teachers 4. The Czech Chamber of Sign Language Interpreters Organizations of Sign Language Interpreters What are the main aims of organizations of sign language interpreters ? • Enhancing the quality of professional interpreting for the deaf - historically there were very few possibilities for deaf to use a professional interpreting services (usually "CODA" - Children Of Deaf Adults). • Education in the field of interpreting for the deaf. • Supporting the interests of interpreters for the deaf. • Creating learning programs for deaf children, for professionals and interpreters for the deaf. Organizations of sign language interpreters • Interpreting at social and cultural events organised for the deaf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFDCgnRJ9u0 Organizations of sign language interpreters „Speaking as a deaf person I believe that the most effective "cure" for deafness is not medicine, not mechanical or electronic devices nor the surgical blade, but understanding. And, ironically, understanding is free. Before we can develop understanding, however, we must create awareness.“ (awareness of Deaf culture) Jack R. Gannon, 1979 (Shattering silence throughtout the world. Presented at the Sixtieth Annual Convention of Quota International, July 16th, 1979, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Deaf Culture deaf x Deaf • Spreadthesign.com is an international dictionary of sign languages. This self-learning tool is free to use for all in the world. http://www.spreadthesign.com/gb/ • Quiet sign of love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT9CSuelX-E Reference: • http://www.agbell.org/ • http://www.asha.org/ • http://www.batod.org.uk/ • http://www.raisingdeafkids.org/ Cole, E., Flexer, C. Children with Hearing Loss: Developing Listening and Talking, Birth to Six, Plural Publishing, 2010 Marschark, M., Spencer, P. E. The Oxford Handbook of Deaf Studies, Language, and Education, Volume 1 (Oxford Library of Psychology), Oxford University Press , 2011 Spencer, P. E. , Marschark, M.,Evidence-Based Practice in Educating Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students (Professional Perspectives on Deafness: Evidence and Applications), Oxford University Press, 2010 for your attention.