Why Deaf Awareness Should Be Incorporated Into the Scottish Education System
As a young deaf journalist, it baffles me as to how little people are deaf aware in today’s society.
I strongly believe that the best way people can be more deaf aware is through education.
Last year, I was School Captain of Calderhead High School in Shotts. To help promote Deaf Awareness Month, I created PowerPoint lessons which were delivered by teachers in PSHE classes.
If there is any one thing that I hoped pupils took from that lesson, it’s this:
When those young people leave education and transition to college, university or the workplace, they are now that little bit more deaf aware, and if they ever approach a deaf person - they have learned how to do so.
I remember, staff at Calderhead telling me that by delivering those lessons, they had also taken something from it.
That is why, I think that if the government introduced deaf awareness as part of the education system - it would hugely benefit both staff and pupils in their teaching and education, and overall, make it more inclusive.
However, the only way that can happen is if it is sustained and not a one off.
My high school might never do a deaf awareness lesson again. They might never have a deaf School Captain again. But, if I have left, having helped my high school become more deaf aware - and by writing this article, make Holyrood take notice, then all the better for it.