1. A Career in Teaching Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Welcome, and thank you for your interest in a career in teaching students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
(introduce yourself, and your job/where you work)

2. Teachers of Students Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing…
Advocate for Deaf/Hard of Hearing students
Teachers of students who are D/HH have many different aspects to their role. Perhaps one of the most important is as an advocate for Deaf children. It is through qualified teachers, providing quality programming that students who are Deaf or hard of hearing will thrive and take their place in society, both as members of the Deaf community and as members of the hearing community.
CAEDHH

3. Teachers of Students Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing…
Work with students of all ages
Quality education, incorporating best practices in education is crucial across an entire educational experience. This is especially true for children who are Deaf or hard of hearing. No matter if it is in early education or in preparation for college, Deaf students require the specialized teaching practices that qualified teachers of students who are Deaf or hard of hearing can provide.
CAEDHH

4. Teachers of Students Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing…
Teach speech, auditory skills, writing, reading and language within the appropriate academic goals of the curriculum
One of the biggest challenges for oral deaf students is the development and maintenance of good speech and language skills. Often working hand in hand with Speech Language Pathologists, teachers of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children have the necessary skills to help these students develop and maintain good spoken language skills. Mastery of the written components of language is also critical for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. Quality teacher training will provide you with the techniques and practices necessary to encourage and plan for the development of strong literacy and numeracy skills.
CAEDHH

5. Teachers of Children Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing…
Teach a variety of subjects
One of the most rewarding facets of teaching students who are Deaf or Hard of hearing is the fact that classes tend to be small. Generally a ratio of about 6 to 1 is common for classes for Deaf students. This means that planning and implementing individual educational plans can take place at a more intense level, that individual differences and learning styles can be accommodated , and student successes can more easily tracked and celebrated.
CAEDHH

6. Teachers of Students Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing…
Use a variety of communication methodologies as appropriate to the needs of the students, such as American Sign Language (ASL) and Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT)
Depending on the communication philosophy of the educational placement, and the philosophy of the parents, teacher of Deaf or Hard of Hearing children may teach using totally oral/aural methods incorporating Auditory Verbal Therapy practices, oral methods using speech-reading, Total Communication using sign supported English, or in an ASL environment.
CAEDHH

7. Teachers of Students Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing…
Work with technology including hearing aids, cochlear implants and FM systems
With the information and technology age comes the growth of new technologies for students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. In addition to working with students who have cochlear implants or hearing aids, there are a myriad of other assistive listening devices, as well as technologies specifically developed for Deaf individuals who many not use audition, such as real-time captioning and rear window captioning in theatres.
CAEDHH

8. Teachers of Students Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing…
Assist in the development of the Individual Education Plan
The IEP is the cornerstone of the education of Deaf students. It is through this document that realistic goals can be set for each student, ensuring best practice in teaching and maximizing student success. Teachers of students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing assist in the development of these plans, and plan the strategies and teams require to fully implement the educational path for students.
CAEDHH

9. Teachers of Students Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing…
Support the social and academic integration of students
In many cases, Deaf or Hard of Hearing students are integrated into mainstream classrooms for all or a portion of their school day. Teachers of students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing then provide support to the integration teachers and mainstream classes. This may take the form of awareness workshops and sensitivity training, or as a monitor to ensure continues success.
CAEDHH

10. Teachers of Children Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing…
Work with newly diagnosed children and their families
Early Interventionists may contact a home visiting teacher who is a trained teacher of Deaf children, to ensure that early language development occurs at as natural a rate as is possible. In home visiting teacher capacity, teachers of Deaf children have the unique skills and educational insight to plan organized language lessons for parents or guardians, to work with the preschoolers to model language development strategies, and to facilitate transition contacts when the child reaches school age.
CAEDHH

11. Teachers of Students Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing…
Provide families and school staff with information and support
The teacher of students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing working in a mainstream setting is very often the only resource a school staff may have for information regarding the Deaf students that may be in their classes. Teachers of Deaf children then become a valuable contact for everything from troubleshooting assistive listening devices to planning remedial lessons.
CAEDHH

12. Teachers of Students Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing…
Provide in-service regarding educational implications of hearing loss to professionals and to hearing peers
Awareness of the implication of hearing loss and its impact on education is one of the fundamental understandings that must be conveyed to mainstream teachers, and to the other students in the class with the Deaf student. Providing workshops of appropriate use and care of assistive listening devices, as well as implementing sensitivity training workshops for mainstream classes can help the Deaf/Hard of Hearing student transition successfully from a class for Deaf students to partial or complete integration.
CAEDHH

13. You may work in any of the following roles:
Itinerant teacher
Itinerant teachers travel from school to school, performing hands-on activities with individual Deaf/Hard of Hearing students in accordance with the student’s IEP. Depending on the student’s need, the Itinerant teacher plans visits to meet the student’s educational requirements. The itinerant teacher may work in the class with the student or may work on a withdrawal model, depending on the student’s need and the philosophy of the school.
CAEDHH

14. Teacher in a Provincial School for the Deaf
There are 8 Provincial Schools for the Deaf in Canada –– Newfoundland School for the Deaf in St John’s Newfoundland, Mackay Centre in Montreal Quebec, Centre Jules Leger in Ottawa Ontario, Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf in Belleville Ontario, E.C. Drury School for the Deaf in Milton Ontario, Robart’s School for the Deaf in London Ontario, Manitoba School for the Deaf in Winnipeg Manitoba, Alberta School for the Deaf in Edmonton Alberta and British Columbia School for the Deaf in Burnaby British Columbia.
Each of these schools provides both residential and day educational facilities for Deaf students. Generally, some form of sign supported English or pure ASL is used as the basic language of instruction, and many of these schools advocate a bilingual-bicultural educational experiences – ASL as the language of instruction, with English being taught as a second language. Many students who come from Deaf families see Provincial Schools as the place where Deaf Culture thrives, giving culturally Deaf individuals a sense of community.
CAEDHH

15. Early Intervention Specialist
Working with newly diagnosed young Deaf or Hard of Hearing children provides families with the best start for their young ones. Hearing loss can have a devastating impact on language. Early Intervention/Home Visiting teachers can provide concrete teaching, as well as hope and support for parents dealing with a new diagnosis of hearing loss.
CAEDHH

16. Classroom Teacher - Congregated Class
Many Deaf/Hard of Hearing children attend school in congregated classes in mainstream schools. Students may spend all or part of their school day in the class for Deaf students, and be integrated for some portions of their school day. Teachers in congregated classes become school resources to staff – assisting with integration issues, development of the students’ IEPs and providing awareness and sensitivity training for hearing classmates.
CAEDHH

17. Educational Consultant
Educational consultants may travel to different schools to consult on educational issues, especially in areas where itinerant services may be thin. Additionally, consultants are available to give program suggestions, to provide and facilitate workshops, to give a Deaf Education perspective to Ministry incentives and programs, and in some locations assess and present students whose parents seek admission to Provincial Schools.
CAEDHH

18. Where are the Teacher -Training Universities?
University of British Columbia
University of Alberta
York
Mount St Vincent
CAEDHH

19. Professional Preparation Programs:
The University of British Columbia
UBC, located in Vancouver BC, offers a Master’s Level degree program that can lead to national certification
The program is a combination of summer and part-time distance learning. This allows teachers to remain in their home community during the school year.
CAEDHH

20. University of Alberta CAEDHH - 2006
The University of Alberta in Edmonton Alberta offers a 14 month (full-time) program in education of Deaf students. There is a thesis or course route option for this program.
CAEDHH

21. York University CAEDHH - 2006
York University in Toronto Ontario offers a pot-baccalaureate diploma leading to national certification as a teacher of Deaf or Hard of Hearing learners. Full time and part time programs are available.
CAEDHH

22. Mount St. Vincent University
Mount St Vincent University, located in Halifax Nova Scotia offers a masters degree program leading to specialist preparation as teacher of Deaf and Hard of Hearing learners. This program is a combination of distance part time and on-campus full time study.
All the programs mentioned in this presentation meet the CAEDHH qualifications for national certification.
CAEDHH

23. What do I need to get into a program?
You should have:
A B.Ed. or equivalent
Several years teaching experience
UBC
U of A
MSV
York
CAEDHH

24. Thank-you!
Thank you for your attention and interest in the education of student who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
CAEDHH