Towards a National policy in the education of deaf children and young people
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In this document the term ‘deaf’ covers the full range of hearing loss to be found in the population.
Assumptions, Rights and Entitlements
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Assumption
- equality of opportunity is a prerequisite of education.
Right
- to equality of opportunity regardless of degree or type of deafness
Entitlement
- not to be discriminated against on basis of degree or type of deafness.
THE ABILITIES OF DEAF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Assumptions
- deaf children and young people are not all the same: they have differing needs and requirements.
- deaf children and young people have the same potential for language and learning as their hearing peers.
Rights
- to have their individual needs respected.
- to a full and relevant education in an appropriate educational environment, such that they leave education with optimal language and communication skills.
- to have literacy skills to enable them to take full advantage of the curriculum, including the National Curriculum.
- to develop the range of skills, knowledge and experiences required for individual fulfilment and independence.
Entitlements
- to educational services which respond to their needs through the provision of access to differing forms of support and a range of approaches to education.
- to qualified Teachers of the Deaf and other professionals who have skills to recognise, assess and meet their academic, personal and social needs.
- to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum.
- to appropriate forms of assessment and accreditation.
- to have the optimum provision and management of personal and other amplification systems as appropriate.
IDENTITY
Assumption
- some deaf children and young people will grow up to be part of the deaf population: some will live fully in the hearing world and some will move between the two.
Rights
- to develop appropriate skills to enable them to participate in hearing and deaf communities to the extent which they themselves choose.
- to be valued in terms of both their deaf and hearing identities.
Entitlements
- to opportunities of access to both hearing and deaf communities.
- to be recognised, appreciated and valued as an equal member of society.
FAMILY
Assumption
- deaf children come from hearing or deaf families, from differing household structures and from differing ethnic and linguistic backgrounds.
Rights
- to have their family background recognised and valued.
- to have parental wishes recognised and considered.
Entitlement
- to an education which facilitates good relationships and communication within the family.
