Lifelong education for deaf people Lydia Tonar equalizent

Lydia Tonar  deaf, born into deaf family  trainee for adult education  subjects: EDV/ECDL, Advanced, German, English, ÖGS (Austrian Sign Language)

Bilingual qualification center for hard of hearing and deaf people Institution in the range for adult education Measures for integration into the first job market are in the foreground offers courses held during the day and courses in the evening individual training (face-to-face) diversity management conception equalizent

Deaf people in Austria The group of hard of hearings & deaf people in Austria has an extent of approximately one half million. Only people use the Austrian Sign Language as their native language. Austrian Sign Language was admitted in the obstruction equalisation law on March 8th, 2005.

In those countries who speak German (Austria, Germany, Switzerland) the oral method has prevailed, whose primarely goal is the oral competence. Only in that way we can live „normally“ and were accepted by the hearing world. Until the 80's sign language method in classes was forbidden. Instead of school students use sign language in breaks and privately so the sign language was sophisticated. Even though bilingual trials in schools (the use of sign language and oral- and literary language) has been prevailed and the success rate is high the bilingual trials in compulsory education are still exceptions. Situation of education

For 25% of deaf people the highest education conclusion is the junior high school. Only 3% do have a school leaving examination! Only 0.5% went to an university! About 40% completed an apprenticeship! Over 60% of questioned persons didn‘t choose their profession at their own! The prevailing part of deaf people didn‘t complete any professional training! Statistics: education conclusion – ( Linz, 2002)

Due to the education situation the consequences are: –Low level job –mostly low endowed employment conditions –bad situation in most areas of life The occupational area leads to more frequent unemployment and to acceptance from bad to worse paid jobs. Consequences

Deaf people work mostly in not interesting jobs which are threatened of extinction or those who have hardly prospects for the labor market. e.g.: shoemakers, tailors, sartorials, within the range leather goods production or other occupations relating to crafts as, carpenters, fitters, painters and paperhangers. Vocationally aspects

Possible causes According to the opinion of experts the oral method inhibits the acquisition of a sophisticated language. –Deficits in sign- and written language (avoidable functional illiteratism) –Difficulties to acquire a specific vocabulary -Lack of access to education The choice of occupation is mostly designated from an other person for a deaf person and not adapted to his/her mind.

focus on needs of course participants! pleasant atmosphere for participants Well equipped an specially designed course rooms training in equalizent

Austrian Sign language is the main language in teaching, deaf people teach deaf people special material for deaf people (examples) special course rooms different structure of teaching more focus on language training combining practice and theory different perception than hearing people – why? lifelong education Everyday in equalizent

Diversity Management A process intended to create and maintain a positive work environment where the similarities and differences of individuals are valued, so that all can reach their potential and maximize their contributions to an organization's strategic goals and objectives. variety six groups communication in courses main languages in equalizent lifelong education many cultural differencies – one community

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