Deaf Children in the Mainstream

Deaf Children in the Mainstream:
What you need to know
A Resource for Preschool/Pre-Kindergarten Teachers

As today’s classrooms become more diverse, teachers are likely to encounter students with some type of hearing loss. This is particularly true at the preschool/pre-kindergarten level where the inclusion of deaf students is most common. When these children arrive in classrooms, teachers often have questions regarding how best to meet their educational needs. This packet was designed to help teachers who have had minimal training or experience related to the education of young deaf and hard-of-hearing children. It may also provide new insights to teachers who have worked with deaf children in the past.

The following information is included in this packet:

What is deafness? Glossary of terms that explain the causes of deafness, types of deafness, and the various levels of hearing loss.	Communicating with the Deaf Information on various means of classroom communication with children who have a hearing loss. Includes descriptions of signing systems and the use of educational interpreters.		Assistive Communication Devices An introduction to the devices used to enhance communication with deaf/hard-of-hearing. Information on amplification systems, telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD), and telephone relay services.
Building Language Skills in Deaf Children Descriptions of tools and techniques you can use to provide a foundation for success in the development of a deaf child's language skills.		The Silent Road to Literacy A discussion on the importance of reading to deaf children and what you can do to pave the way for deaf children to overcome the difficulties they face on the road to literacy.
World Wide Web Resources A list of internet web sites that provide a wealth of information on deafness, deaf culture, and deaf education.		For More Information… A bibliography of additional resources and further reading concerning the education of deaf/hard-of-hearing children.

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