The Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Ireland
Development of Co-operative Structures
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DeafEducationReport
- Bu sahifa navigatsiya:
- Appendices Appendix 1: Legal Context Education Act 1998
- Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004
- The Disability Act 2005
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Appendix 2: Signature Levels Signature
Appendices Appendix 1: Legal Context Education Act 1998 The purpose of the Education Act 1998 is to make provision for the education of every person in the state, including persons with a disability or other special educational needs. The following specific references to children with special educational needs are made in the first three stated objectives of the Act: to give practical effect to the constitutional rights of children, including children who have a disability or who have other special educational needs, as they relate to education to provide that, as far as is practicable and having regard to the resources available, there is made available to people resident in the State a level and quality of education appropriate to meeting the needs and abilities of those people to promote equality of access to and participation in education and to promote the means whereby students may benefit from education. The Act makes specific reference to Deaf and hard of hearing children in a number of sections: Under Section 2, support services are defined to include provision for students learning through Irish Sign Language or other sign language, including interpreting services. Section 13 (4) (e) states that one of the functions of the Inspectorate is to advise the Minister on any matter relating to the linguistic needs of Deaf students in recognised schools. Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004 The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act (Government of Ireland, 2004) was enacted in 2004 to ... make further provision for the education of people with special educational needs and to provide that the education of people with such needs shall, wherever possible, take place in an inclusive environment with those who do not have such needs and to provide that people with special educational needs shall have the same right to avail of, and benefit from, appropriate education as do their peers who do not have such needs. (Government of Ireland, 2004) The Act provides for the rights of children to an assessment, an individual education plan and an independent appeals process. Full implementation of the EPSEN Act has been deferred. The sections that have been commenced mainly deal with the right to be educated in an inclusive manner, the duties of schools and the establishment of the NCSE. The Disability Act 2005 The Disability Act 2005 makes provision for the assessment of the health and education needs of people with disabilities, for services to meet those needs, preparation of service plans, and appeals in relation to the non-provision of services. The Disability Act, 2005 complements the objectives of the EPSEN Act, 2004 and supports its implementation. When read together, the Acts appear to envisage a high level of co-operation between the education and health sectors so as to ensure the delivery of an effective and co-ordinated service to children with special educational needs, in inclusive settings (Government of Ireland, 2005). The Disability Act 2005 amends the Broadcasting Act 2001 (Government of Ireland, 2001) to ensure that each broadcaster must take specified steps to promote the understanding and enjoyment by people who are Deaf or have a hearing impairment. In addition, each broadcaster must provide access to material through sign language. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted on 13 December 2001. To date, 147 countries have signed the Convention, with 99 countries ratifying the Convention. Ireland signed the Convention on the 30th March 2007 but to date has not ratified it. Article 24 (Education) states that State Parties should ensure that: persons with disabilities are not excluded from the general education system on the basis of disability, and that children with disabilities are not excluded from free and compulsory primary education, or from secondary education, on the basis of disability persons with disabilities can access an inclusive, quality and free primary education and secondary education on an equal basis with others in the communities in which they live reasonable accommodation of the individual's requirements is provided persons with disabilities receive the support required, within the general education system, to facilitate their effective education persons with disabilities learn life and social development skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as members of the community. To this end, States Parties shall take appropriate measures, including: facilitating the learning of Braille, alternative script, augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication and orientation and mobility skills, and facilitating peer support and mentoring facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the Deaf and hard of hearing community ensuring that the education of persons, and in particular children, who are blind, Deaf or Deafblind, is delivered in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication for the individual, and in environments which maximise academic and social development. Article 30 relates to participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport. It states that persons with disabilities shall be entitled, on an equal basis with others, to recognition and support of their specific cultural and linguistic identity, including sign languages and Deaf culture (UN, 2006). Appendix 2: Signature Levels Signature Signature is an organisation that offers nationally recognised qualifications in British and Irish Sign Language and administers the National Registers for Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind people in the UK. National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are work-based awards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that are achieved through assessment and training. Download 0.74 Mb. Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: 
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