Education for Deaf Children
This is the second blog post in a “101 Series” Martha EDU is publishing to educate Jordanians and their allies about the Deaf a community.
Should deaf children be educated in sign language?
Are there benefits for deaf children to be surrounded by deaf adults and other deaf children?
What educational programs are available in Jordan for my deaf child?
How can I learn sign language along with my child?
Should deaf children be educated in sign language?
Educators and advocates should consider how environments where children share a language, culture, and experience, can affect social, cognitive, and personal development.
- Martha EDU believes in deaf-led practice; therefore, it follows the guidance of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). WFD emphasizes that deaf people should be educated in sign language and have opportunities to learn about sign language and deaf culture within local education environments– receiving an education in sign language is a “unique need for Deaf learners”.1
- If a child is enrolled at a mainstream school, deaf schools can still serve as resources, such as referrals to peer signing groups1; you can reach out to your local deaf school for resources. No matter where deaf children live, they should have opportunities to access direct instruction in sign language1; direct instruction means that both the teacher and student can communicate effectively using the same language without an interpreter.
- In 2007, Jordan ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Article 24.3.c stresses the importance of educating deaf students in the most appropriate languages and communication modes.2 Martha EDU believes the most appropriate language for Jordanian deaf students is the language that is most accessible to them- i.e., Jordanian Sign Language (LIU).
- Jordanian Sign Language (LIU) may be a completely new, foreign language to family members, and learning it can be time-consuming and requires patience. For these reasons, the decision to educate your deaf child in sign language can be difficult. However, educating a deaf child using spoken language can be just as time-consuming, especially when considering the extra support (e.g., speech therapy and audiologist
appointments) a deaf child needs to attempt a spoken language educational approach.3
Are there benefits for deaf children to be surrounded by deaf adults and other deaf children?
Being educated among peers and role models is essential for any young learner. This remains true for a deaf learner – social skills, language skills, and general knowledge are reinforced through interaction among cultural and linguistic peers and role models.
- Many deaf people discuss the experience of “dinner table syndrome,” in which they are surrounded by hearing family members who don’t sign or adopt turn-taking strategies and miss out on important and enjoyable conversations; this can lead to feelings of isolation and separation from family members.4 Using sign languages in your home, seeking opportunities for social interaction in sign language, and learning turn-taking strategies,4 are ways to promote positive social experiences for your child.
- When deaf children learn from deaf teachers and adults, they gain important relationships with people who can advocate for their educational and social well-being. They also learn critical life skills from deaf adults with first-hand experience and knowledge about being deaf.1
- Deaf schools and environments where sign language is the primary communication method allow deaf children to be included in conversation and socialization.5
What educational programs are available in Jordan for my deaf child?
According to Al-Makhamreh (2016), ten publicly-funded (Al-Aml) schools and two private residential schools- Holy Land Institute for the Deaf and the Al-Rajaa’ school in Zarqa- specifically cater to deaf education in Jordan.6 Beyond this, there is a significant amount of deaf students in mainstream programs at public hearing schools. These students mostly rely on hearing-assistive technology like cochlear implants and hearing aids. Martha EDU believes that such students still deserve to be educated in the language that is most accessible to them- LIU.
- Holy Land Institute for the Deaf currently serves deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deaf-blind students with a K-12 academic boarding program and a wide range of vocational programs.7 To learn more, access their website here.
- The Al-Rajaa’ School in Zarqa currently serves 125 deaf students. In a 2010 study examining a project to unify sign languages across Arab countries, Al-Fityani notes that although teachers at Al-Rajaa’ used their voice more often than they signed, the deaf students “communicate[d] with each other in sign language”.8
- A study done by El-Zraigat and Smadi indicates that the majority of deaf and hard-of-hearing students are educated by “general or regular teachers who were prepared to teach non-disabled or regular students…study the same curricula and have the same educational cycles as hearing students, [or] study at schools not prepared and not designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing students”.9
How can I learn sign language along with my child?
One of the best ways to learn sign language is from other deaf sign language users. Other opportunities include volunteering at a local deaf education program, seeking a deaf language mentor, and investing daily time practicing signs from a sign language dictionary.
- Another resource is taking free LIU classes at the Amman Deaf Cultural Center. Click here to sign up and learn more.
- MarthaEDU is currently leading the field in assistive technology for teaching sign language to deaf children and their families living in Jordan. Click here to learn more about MarthaEDU’s new and exciting mobile app and sign language flashcards.
A note on mainstream education related to deaf learners:
Mainstream schooling for deaf learners usually means they are placed in environments with a majority of hearing peers and are taught by a hearing and speaking teacher.
Article 24.2.b of the CRPD requires that persons with disabilities, including deaf people, receive free, quality education equal to their hearing and non-disabled peers.2
- Active members of deaf communities worldwide have argued that deaf learners should not be integrated into the general education system. In a 2018 article by Joseph Murray (current president of the World Federation of the Deaf) and co-researchers Maartje De Meulder and Delphine le Maire, they explain that “according to the WFD … Deaf students should be provided with appropriate sign language learning environments, as part of an inclusive education system”.10
To support Martha EDU’s development of technology-enabled learning products to increase literacy and LIU access for deaf children across Jordan, please click here. Click here to access our next blog post, focused on early language deprivation.
References | مراجع
- World Federation of the Deaf. “WFD Position Paper on Inclusive Education.” 2018. World Federation of the Deaf. https://wfdeaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/WFD-Position-Paper-on-Inclusive-Education-5-June-2018-FINAL-without-IS.pdf.
- United Nations. 2006. “Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” Treaty Series 2515 (December): 3.
- Mellon, Nancy K., John K. Niparko, Christian Rathmann, Gaurav Mathur, Tom Humphries, Donna Jo Napoli, Theresa Handley, Sasha Scambler, John D. Lantos. 2014. “Should All Deaf Children Learn Sign Language?” Pediatrics, 136, no. 1 (July): 170-176.
- Meek, D. R. (2020). Dinner Table Syndrome: A Phenomenological Study of Deaf Individuals’ Experiences with Inaccessible Communication. The Qualitative Report, 25(6), 1676-1694. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2020.4203.
- Cooper, Audrey C., Sonia Holzman, Maegan Shanks, and Phoebe Tay. 2021. “Beginning with Language: Inclusive Education Strategies with Sign Languages in Rwanda, Singapore, United States, and Việt Nam.” In Global Directions in Inclusive Education: Conceptualizations, Practices, and Methodologies for the 21st Century, edited by Matthew J. Schuelka and Suzanne Carrington, 45–65. London, UK: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003091950.
- Al-Makhamreh, Sahar. 2016. “Hearing the Voices of Young Deaf People: Implications for Social Work Practice in Jordan,” International Social Work 59, no. 1 (January): 47-59. https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/intsocwk59&id=47&men_tab=srchresults.
- The Holy Land Institute for the Deaf. n.d. “Home.” Accessed September 16, 2022. http://www.holyland-deaf.org/en/home/.
- Al-Fityani, Kinda. 2010. “Deaf People, Modernity, and a Contentious Effort to Unify Arab Sign Languages.” PhD diss., University of California.
- El-Zraigat, Ibrahim and Yahya Smadi. 2012. “Challenges of Educating Students Who are Deaf and Hard-Of-Hearing in Jordan.” International Journal of Humanities and Social Science 2(8): 150-158.
- Murray, Joseph, Maartje De Meulder, and Delphine le Maire. 2018. “An Education in Sign Language as a Human Right? An Analysis of the Legislative History and on-going Interpretation of Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).” Human Rights Quarterly, 40(1): 37-60.
Comments (49)
This post emphasizes the importance of deaf-led practice and education in sign language. I appreciate the insights provided.
واجبنا كأهل اننا نساند ونحمي اطفالنا الصم بافضل الامكانيات. وأن نتعلم اللغة الإشارية سويا معهم – تعلم يقربنا من بعض بطريقة فريدة.
هل يمكن نشر مزيد من الدروس على الإنترنت لتعليم لغة الإشارة الأردنية؟
هل يجب تعليم الأطفال الصم بلغة الإشارة؟ هذه مسألة قد تحتاج إلى مزيد من البحث.
I firmly believe in the necessity of deaf children being educated in sign language. It is crucial for their development and well-being.
The focus should be on meeting the unique communication and learning needs of each deaf child – Sign language in schools for the Deaf should be a priority Implementación in Jordan.
ماهي البرامج التعليمية المتاحة في الأردن لأطفالي الصم؟
Deaf-led practice is essential for the holistic development of deaf children. By providing them with comprehensive sign language education, we empower and affirm their identity.
Learning sign language alongside your deaf child can greatly enhance your communication and relationship with them.
تصحيح أن الطلاب الصم وآخرين ذوي الإعاقة سمعية يستفيدو بتلقي الدعم في تعليم اللغة الإشارية – دعم لغوي مهم.
I strongly believe in the benefits of deaf children being educated in sign language. It’s not just about communication, but cultural and personal development as well.
I’m curious about the available educational programs in Jordan for the deaf. Are there specific schools or institutions that focus on sign language education?
ما الخطوات الأولى لتعلم لغة الإشارة بجانب طفلي؟
Educating deaf students in Jordan in sign language is critical to ensure their equal access to education and overall well-being. It’s a human right.
I wholeheartedly agree that environments where children share a language, culture, and experience can significantly impact their development and social skills.
كيف يمكنني تعلم لغة الإشارة جنباً إلى جنب مع طفلي؟
I am wondering where I can find local resources in Jordan to aid in learning Jordanian Sign Language along with my child. Any suggestions?
Supporting the culture of deaf-led practice is crucial to providing a supportive and enriching educational environment for deaf children.
Mainstream education fails to address the specific linguistic and cultural requirements of deaf children. We must advocate for inclusive education with sign language as a foundation.
The inclusion of deaf children in sign language-based education is paramount for their holistic development. Having deaf mentors and peers can truly make a difference.
The emphasis on the importance of providing deaf children with opportunities for direct instruction in sign language is key to their educational success.
يوجد برامج تعليمية
Two key points are raised here: the need for educational programs specifically designed for the deaf community and the importance of learning sign language alongside the child.
As a parent, I’ve seen exceptional growth in my child after learning sign language. Bridging the communication gap has positively impacted our family dynamic.
ما هي الطرق المتاحة لتعلم لغة الإشارة بجانب طفلي؟
As an educator, I support the inclusion of sign language education for deaf students in Jordan’s educational curriculum. It’s a way to achieve linguistic and social equality.
There’s a strong emphasis on social inclusion and the role of deaf-led environments in facilitating positive social experiences for deaf children. I appreciate this perspective.
توفير اللغة العربية الأردنية في المنازل هو خطوة هامه للتأكيد على التعليم المزدوج – تأثير ايجابي بين الجيلين
As an advocate for deaf-led practice, I fully support the belief that deaf children should be educated in sign language, seeking to maximize their participation and growth within their community.
ما هي البدايات الجيدة لتعلم لغة الإشارة؟
Considering the challenges of autism in Jordan, children deserve to receive a high-quality education tailored to their needs such as sign language programs. Appreciate the insights provided here.
We need to emphasize the significance of deaf schools and environments in Jordan that prioritize sign language as the primary mode of communication. It’s crucial for full inclusion.
The personal experiences shared here shed light on the importance of language and role model exposure for deaf children. It’s a testament to the positive impact of such interactions.
Integration of deaf learners into the general education system might not cater to their specific needs. There’s a compelling argument for appropriate sign language learning environments.
Educating deaf children in sign language fosters a sense of belonging and facilitates effective communication in various aspects of their lives. We need to reshape educational frameworks to support this.
The provision of resources and support for families navigating the use of sign language at home can significantly enhance the deaf child’s social experiences. It’s an important aspect to consider.
كيف يمكنني الحصول على التوجيه لتعلم لغة الإشارة الأردنية؟ هل هناك دورات أو جمعيات غير حكومية تقدم دعم؟
هل يتوفر برامج تعليمية في الأردن لأبنائي الصم؟
Inclusive education and the focus on deaf-led environments align with the goal of creating positive social experiences and profound learning for deaf children. Thank you for addressing this important topic.
Sign language provides deaf children in Jordan with access to their linguistic and cultural identity. It’s an essential tool for their education and social integration.
هل يوجد برامج أخرى للتعليم باللغة الأردنية للإشارة؟
Highlighting the cultural and social benefits of deaf children being surrounded by their peers and role models emphasizes the uniqueness of their learning needs. Thank you for raising awareness about this.
I think it’s crucial for parents to learn sign language alongside their deaf children. It fosters a deeper connection and enhances overall communication at home.
It’s imperative that we bridge the educational gap between deaf and non-deaf students. Inclusive education is the right step forward for Jordan’s deaf community.
Educators and advocates emphasizing direct instruction in sign language aligns with the need to provide a supportive educational environment that caters to the unique learning needs of deaf children. It’s important to highlight this.
I firmly support Martha EDU’s promotion of technology-enabled learning products to enhance sign language literacy for deaf children. This dedication is vital for fostering an inclusive society.
كيف يمكنني تعلم لغة الإشارة بجانب طفلي من ذوي الإحتياجات الخاصة؟
يجب أن توفر الفرص التعليمية للأطفال الصم في الأردن كتعليم الإشارة من خلال أساس النظام التعليمي – وهي تطلب تأسيس حصيفة تدريسية.
The emphasis on creating language learning environments specifically tailored to deaf children’s needs resonates with the goal of ensuring equal educational opportunities for all students.