So I hope everyone had a good Christmas and that you all got what you wanted!
Unfortunately, I was revising for most of my Christmas break, preparing for the dreaded exams; maths and English, the essential subjects needed to get into college. So I had to make sure I worked hard as I knew the importance of these exams, I knew I had to do well in them, so the pressure was on.
In my first week back I had 2 exams, yes 2!
It doesn't seem that long ago that I was writing about my first week in year 11. This month I have just completed 5 exams, time sure does seem to be flying by! I have about 15 weeks left of year 11 left...the prospect of having to do more exams is pretty daunting, but I know it'll be worth it in the end.
I have already started my scrapbook and soon will be starting my yearbook, already looking through my scrapbook I realise that both primary and high school were both good parts of my life, and the memories will always stay with me.
But, hey! I've still got another few months left with these guys, so we are going to make the most of our last few months together and create some amazing memories!
I'm dreading saying goodbye to some people who I have worked closely with for nearly 10 years. I'm not only going to miss my TA's but the people I'm going to miss most are my friends. I'm hoping to keep in contact with those few who I have known since reception, so for some we sure have been on a roller coaster of 10 years, actually 12!
It'll be the end of an era really,saying goodbye to old faces, and some people I haven't really known that long either, but I can't wait to embark on a new chapter of my life; one that I'm REALLY excited about!
You all wait till May, and I promise you that my leaving post for year 11 will sure be emotional!
Monday, 28 January 2013
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Deaf Education Vs Mainstream Education
As a lifelong main-streamer I know all the ups and downs of mainstream school life as a profoundly Deaf teen but I fell in love with Mary Hare's unique environment when I visited a few years ago.
The way in which society educates deaf people has evolved throughout generations. There was a time when deaf people were taught at deaf schools only, using the strategy of BSL, then BSL was banned in deaf education and deaf people were forced to speak. They were punished if they chose to sign as it was forbidden anywhere on school grounds.
From Mary Hare website
The way in which society educates deaf people has evolved throughout generations. There was a time when deaf people were taught at deaf schools only, using the strategy of BSL, then BSL was banned in deaf education and deaf people were forced to speak. They were punished if they chose to sign as it was forbidden anywhere on school grounds.
BIG MISTAKE!
By making them speak they felt like they lost their freedom, the freedom to embrace their deaf culture.
But have we learned from our mistakes?
But have we learned from our mistakes?
Over time more deaf schools have been closed and deaf people have been sent to mainstream schools and have been taught orally. Deaf people are now seen as part of the hearing world. We have to learn English yet BSL isn’t taught.
We are seen as “deaf and dumb” this is NOT true, we can achieve anything in life if we put our minds to it.
But shouldn’t we have the choice as to where we’re educated?
The mainstream environment can cause deaf people to feel isolated, with lower confidence and self esteem but of course this doesn’t apply to everyone many deaf students thrive in a mainstream school and many don’t let their deafness get in the way of their goals and will continue to achieve their potential, with the right support and equipment.
But why should we have “special equipment” and have a TA sat next to us, and be seen as the odd one out, the one who’s disabled? Well, we’re deaf not disabled. Wouldn’t you like not to constantly battle for the right hours of support or equipment?
But why should we have “special equipment” and have a TA sat next to us, and be seen as the odd one out, the one who’s disabled? Well, we’re deaf not disabled. Wouldn’t you like not to constantly battle for the right hours of support or equipment?
Well, none of this matters, no battles are needed.
Doesn’t society encourage equality?
We should have the choice, the option to be educated in a deaf environment where you’re all treated equally, not being treated any different; not being singled out or having advantages because of your deafness.
Not having to worry about explaining to a supply teacher how a radio aid works, or having to stick your hand up, embarrassed because you couldn’t hear what the teacher has said. No bullying towards your deafness.
The deaf education is tailored to students who are deaf, with special group hearing aids, specialist teachers of the deaf. Deaf education allows deaf people to be themselves and forget their deafness, immerse themselves into a world of like-minded people, people who understand them, allowing them to feel “normal”, and also to develop their love for education again. Therefore, increasing self esteem and confidence.
The reason why we don’t see many deaf schools open and very few deaf students applying to go to deaf education is because of cuts and lack of funding. Why should our futures be decided by our LA’s? However, there is a wide amount of support available in a mainstream environment but the quality of support is arguably varied.
Wouldn’t you like the option to choose; mainstream or deaf education? You should have the choice to embrace your deaf culture, to decide how you want to lead your life, for you only live life once. So you should think about what’s best for you, and take the opportunity by both hands.
(Mary Hare Logo is from Mary Hare website)
The reason why we don’t see many deaf schools open and very few deaf students applying to go to deaf education is because of cuts and lack of funding. Why should our futures be decided by our LA’s? However, there is a wide amount of support available in a mainstream environment but the quality of support is arguably varied.
Wouldn’t you like the option to choose; mainstream or deaf education? You should have the choice to embrace your deaf culture, to decide how you want to lead your life, for you only live life once. So you should think about what’s best for you, and take the opportunity by both hands.
(Mary Hare Logo is from Mary Hare website)
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Review of "Whisper"
Whisper is one of very few stories that I could strongly relate to, it connected with me as it shared my culture, my world; my life.
It's about a 'normal' teenager,called Demi, who has her world turned upside down when she's struck down with meningitis and discovers she's profoundly deaf.
Being a teenager must be hard enough
But being a deaf teenager?
Her life is transformed:
New school
New friends
Learning a new language
I was immersed in the story from beginning to end, it was gripping and I simply couldn't put it down. It's a must read for both deaf and hearing audiences.It explores family dynamics, a girl finding her inner strength, and explores the conflict of Demi coming to terms with her "deaf identity" as she finds herself in the "in-between world" juggling the deaf and hearing worlds.
Disability or no disability, every teenager should read this book!
It's about a 'normal' teenager,called Demi, who has her world turned upside down when she's struck down with meningitis and discovers she's profoundly deaf.
Being a teenager must be hard enough
But being a deaf teenager?
Her life is transformed:
New school
New friends
Learning a new language
I was immersed in the story from beginning to end, it was gripping and I simply couldn't put it down. It's a must read for both deaf and hearing audiences.It explores family dynamics, a girl finding her inner strength, and explores the conflict of Demi coming to terms with her "deaf identity" as she finds herself in the "in-between world" juggling the deaf and hearing worlds.
Disability or no disability, every teenager should read this book!
Saturday, 27 October 2012
Cuts to the NHS...
The six month countdown was over, the day was finally here...
Time for my upgrades, the trendy nucleus 5's!
But what was meant to be an exciting day wasn't all that exciting- I was so happy to finally have the smaller, sleeker implants; my life seemed to be made. I had compact and standard rechargeable batteries-more flexibility with how I can wear my processor-what every deaf teenager dreams of!
Another thing every teenager loves doing is listening to music, but as a deaf person music is still as enjoyable as long as you have the correct accessories...unfortunately for me I wasn't provided with a direct cable like I had done when I had my previous upgrade, I was so excited to be getting a bilateral audio input-looks like I was going to have to order my own and wait for the stereo sound.
So what used to be provided for free by the NHS now costs £60-yes £60! But that's not all I also had to buy a freedom adapter to ensure my previous Freedom implant cable would be compatible with my new processors-another £60, the money soon mounts up-but we really need to pay this much to be able to have a better quality of sound? This shows how much of a disadvantage deaf people are as we need extra accessories to be able to enjoy the world of sound, but we shouldn't have to pay for them, if anything NHS could at least subsidise this cost of the accessories.
I worry for the future of the deaf community as the BBC reports that; Action on Hearing Loss has collected data from 128 hospitals and 'found more than 40% had seen cuts in the past 18 months.' So what does this worrying statistic suggest? That we're going to experience more than a lack of accessories? Something needs to be done!
But what was meant to be an exciting day wasn't all that exciting- I was so happy to finally have the smaller, sleeker implants; my life seemed to be made. I had compact and standard rechargeable batteries-more flexibility with how I can wear my processor-what every deaf teenager dreams of!
Another thing every teenager loves doing is listening to music, but as a deaf person music is still as enjoyable as long as you have the correct accessories...unfortunately for me I wasn't provided with a direct cable like I had done when I had my previous upgrade, I was so excited to be getting a bilateral audio input-looks like I was going to have to order my own and wait for the stereo sound.
So what used to be provided for free by the NHS now costs £60-yes £60! But that's not all I also had to buy a freedom adapter to ensure my previous Freedom implant cable would be compatible with my new processors-another £60, the money soon mounts up-but we really need to pay this much to be able to have a better quality of sound? This shows how much of a disadvantage deaf people are as we need extra accessories to be able to enjoy the world of sound, but we shouldn't have to pay for them, if anything NHS could at least subsidise this cost of the accessories.
I worry for the future of the deaf community as the BBC reports that; Action on Hearing Loss has collected data from 128 hospitals and 'found more than 40% had seen cuts in the past 18 months.' So what does this worrying statistic suggest? That we're going to experience more than a lack of accessories? Something needs to be done!
Thursday, 13 September 2012
Year 11!
Well, I went back to school last Wednesday, but to be fair I've got to say, that apart from the assembly, it was a great first day back-no lessons, chatting and chilling in form (not to mention the late start-11am!) If only every day was like that.
When I arrived at school, all I could hear was a clamour of excited chatter, people exchanging stories about their holidays, exchanging exam results and the excitement of the fact that we have only got one year-well, 9 months left! The weirdest thing about the whole day was seeing all of my friends in white shirts-only the year 11's have the privilege of having them :) What was the worst thing? Getting my timetable-it's worst than last year- I mean triple geography?! Who even invented that idea? But at 3pm I knew that summer was then officially over-back to lessons!
So after a week of lessons, what can I say?
It's lovely to see everyone again, to see them again after what seemed forever (it was only 2 months!) We still have so much to catch up on.
I'm shattered, I hate to think how exhausted I'm going to be in the lead up to exams, all the preparation and revision-the lessons have been fairly relaxed , laid back and the teachers have been doing our "learning plans." Despite that we have already had a quite a lot of homework, and that's in the first week so I'm dreading what it'll be like when exam period kicks off! But fear not I'm raring to go and determined to get the grades I both deserve and need to get into sixth form, bring on the exhaustion! Year 11, throw anything at me cos I'm ready!
When I arrived at school, all I could hear was a clamour of excited chatter, people exchanging stories about their holidays, exchanging exam results and the excitement of the fact that we have only got one year-well, 9 months left! The weirdest thing about the whole day was seeing all of my friends in white shirts-only the year 11's have the privilege of having them :) What was the worst thing? Getting my timetable-it's worst than last year- I mean triple geography?! Who even invented that idea? But at 3pm I knew that summer was then officially over-back to lessons!
So after a week of lessons, what can I say?
It's lovely to see everyone again, to see them again after what seemed forever (it was only 2 months!) We still have so much to catch up on.
I'm shattered, I hate to think how exhausted I'm going to be in the lead up to exams, all the preparation and revision-the lessons have been fairly relaxed , laid back and the teachers have been doing our "learning plans." Despite that we have already had a quite a lot of homework, and that's in the first week so I'm dreading what it'll be like when exam period kicks off! But fear not I'm raring to go and determined to get the grades I both deserve and need to get into sixth form, bring on the exhaustion! Year 11, throw anything at me cos I'm ready!
Friday, 31 August 2012
Decisions,decisions,decisions!
Whilst I am excited to be receiving my upgrades in october, after waiting 5 years, I am faced with a dilemma: do I have one or two upgrades?
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Me,Cochlear Implants and the deaf community
Cochlear Implants; does that make me deaf?
Cochlear implants spark a lot of controversy within the deaf community; some accept them, some don't and some are unsure. Some people believe that if your born deaf, then you should stay deaf, that you shouldn't have any hearing devices. Some believe that if your given the opportunity to hear, why not take it? Some feel that it takes one's deaf identity away from them.
I for one am mixed about cochlear implants, I love them because it means I can hear,speak, I can integrate with the hearing community. But I feel they take away my sense of deaf identity, that I belong in neither the hearing or deaf world, that I live in an 'in-between' world. I feel bad to call myself deaf, because I go to mainstream school,have hearing friends and live in a hearing family.
Some views shared in the deaf community::
' I really like them, I'm having my second one next year! If I didn't have them I would've been a BSL user and I would've had to communicate with my family using BSL. But now I have one I wish I knew more BSL and the frustrating thing is that I always have to avoid things.' Ellen (teen user of CI'S)
'I think CI's are amazing, they illustrate how wonderful the human brains are at adapting by turning electrical impulses into sound which we can interpret, they are one of the most amazing medical advances to date. They're not successful for everyone and aren't a 'magic fix' for deafness. They can restore hearing to a large degree if successful but CI users should still be proud of their deaf identity ' Eloise (teen user of Hearing aids)
' I highly recommend them, my son has two implants, he never used to make a sound previous to having them, but he can now successfully say clear sentences.' Amanda (Parent's perspective)
'My daughter has the best of both worlds: signing, speaking and listening to music. We don't take her implant for granted and are in awe of it.' Carol (Parents perspective)
'I think CI's are one of the major reasons of why deaf culture and language are diminishing, whilst we are seeing more deaf schools close. I feel that children should have the option to choose whether they want to have an implant. If parents choose when their child is young, then the child has little scope to look into further options later on in life, it's difficult for a child so young to comprehend the process and what it all means. I fear for our deaf community, deaf culture and language.' Ni (Deaf teen-hearing aid user)
So to conclude CI's may impact on deaf culture, language and education. But they improve an individuals life for the better, in most cases. However CI's are not suitable for everyone and not everyone agrees with them but we're all unique and we all have different needs. CI's don't make you 'hearing' they just give you the opportunity to experience the sense of hearing. Lots of people feel the same as I do, its possible to be part of both worlds. I love my CI's, they have changed my life and they have opened up so many opportunities for me.I do however wish that I carried on signing throughout, embracing my deaf culture.
Cochlear implants spark a lot of controversy within the deaf community; some accept them, some don't and some are unsure. Some people believe that if your born deaf, then you should stay deaf, that you shouldn't have any hearing devices. Some believe that if your given the opportunity to hear, why not take it? Some feel that it takes one's deaf identity away from them.
I for one am mixed about cochlear implants, I love them because it means I can hear,speak, I can integrate with the hearing community. But I feel they take away my sense of deaf identity, that I belong in neither the hearing or deaf world, that I live in an 'in-between' world. I feel bad to call myself deaf, because I go to mainstream school,have hearing friends and live in a hearing family.
Some views shared in the deaf community::
' I really like them, I'm having my second one next year! If I didn't have them I would've been a BSL user and I would've had to communicate with my family using BSL. But now I have one I wish I knew more BSL and the frustrating thing is that I always have to avoid things.' Ellen (teen user of CI'S)
'I think CI's are amazing, they illustrate how wonderful the human brains are at adapting by turning electrical impulses into sound which we can interpret, they are one of the most amazing medical advances to date. They're not successful for everyone and aren't a 'magic fix' for deafness. They can restore hearing to a large degree if successful but CI users should still be proud of their deaf identity ' Eloise (teen user of Hearing aids)
' I highly recommend them, my son has two implants, he never used to make a sound previous to having them, but he can now successfully say clear sentences.' Amanda (Parent's perspective)
'My daughter has the best of both worlds: signing, speaking and listening to music. We don't take her implant for granted and are in awe of it.' Carol (Parents perspective)
'I think CI's are one of the major reasons of why deaf culture and language are diminishing, whilst we are seeing more deaf schools close. I feel that children should have the option to choose whether they want to have an implant. If parents choose when their child is young, then the child has little scope to look into further options later on in life, it's difficult for a child so young to comprehend the process and what it all means. I fear for our deaf community, deaf culture and language.' Ni (Deaf teen-hearing aid user)
So to conclude CI's may impact on deaf culture, language and education. But they improve an individuals life for the better, in most cases. However CI's are not suitable for everyone and not everyone agrees with them but we're all unique and we all have different needs. CI's don't make you 'hearing' they just give you the opportunity to experience the sense of hearing. Lots of people feel the same as I do, its possible to be part of both worlds. I love my CI's, they have changed my life and they have opened up so many opportunities for me.I do however wish that I carried on signing throughout, embracing my deaf culture.
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