This research aims to build upon existing literature and explore the experiences of d/Deaf and HoH people who grew up in Southern Ontario and were raised outside of the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, and/or without access to sign language. / Throughout the literature, there is existing research on the experiences of people in the Deaf community from a culturally Deaf perspective and from a medicalized perspective of the condition of hearing loss; however, there is very literature on the experiences of people who do not fall within either of these binary views of what being d/Deaf and HoH is. This research aims to build upon existing literature and explore the experiences of d/Deaf and HoH people who grew up in Southern Ontario and were raised outside of the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, and/or without access to signed language. This research is theoretically underpinned by critical disability theory and deaf critical theory—otherwise known as deaf crit—to broadly understand the nuances of how d/Deaf and HoH people are impacted by structural, systemic, and interpersonal experiences of audism, power, and oppression. This study relied on Photovoice as the research methodology to best center the perspectives of the participants through visual and textual analysis. Three participants participated in four virtual Photovoice workshops where they shared photographs in response to different prompts about their experiences as d/Deaf and HoH people. The ensuing discussion found the key themes: 1) the ability to explore their self-identity as d/Deaf and HoH people; 2) the importance of developing pathways to community early on in life; 3) the need for multiple supports when receiving care. This research contributes to the literature that centers the nuanced perspectives of those who are d/Deaf and HoH but raised without access to Deaf culture, community, and/or sign language and makes suggestions for future practice and policy that centers diverse needs and desires for support. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a supplemental vocabulary intervention on the content area vocabulary word and definition knowledge of DHH student in grades K-2, the integrity with which itinerant teachers implemented the supplemental vocabulary intervention, and the effects and benefits of coaching to support treatment integrity. Mixed methods were employed; a single subject multiple baseline across subjects and content design was used to investigate student word and definition knowledge, while quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used to examine the effects of coaching on teachers' treatment integrity. The supplemental vocabulary intervention included explicit and implicit strategies and was designed to fit the context of itinerant teacher services. Various levels of support were employed to coach teachers as they gained familiarity with the intervention and improved their treatment integrity during implementation. Student word and definition knowledge was examined in relation to teacher treatment integrity to determine if teacher implementation had an effect on student outcomes. Results showed a functional relationship between the supplemental vocabulary intervention and student word and definition knowledge. Teachers' treatment integrity was found to have a greater effect on student definition knowledge than word knowledge. Teachers responded positively to the coaching they received, and their implementation improved over the course of the study. Practical and research implications for using supplemental vocabulary instruction with DHH students, as well as the need to provide support to teachers to improve treatment integrity, are discussed.

Data from a growing number of research studies indicate that children with hearing loss are delayed in Theory of Mind (ToM) development when compared to their typically developing, hearing peers. While other researchers have studied the developmental trajectories of ToM in school-age students who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH), a limited number have addressed the need for interventions for this population. The present study extends the current research on ToM interventions to the PreKindergarten and Kindergarten levels. This study used a single-case multiple-baseline multiple-probe across skills design with replications across classrooms to examine the effects of a ToM intervention on participants’ false belief understanding as well as outcomes on a near generalization measure (i.e., Sally-Anne Task, Baron-Cohen, Firth, Leslie, 1985) and a far generalization measure (i.e., five-task ToM developmental scale, Wellman & Liu, 2004). A thought bubble intervention (i.e., a visual representation of what people are thinking) developed by Wellman and Peterson (2013) was modified in key areas: (a) participants were substantially younger than the population in the original study and thus required a pre-teaching phase addressing vocabulary and materials, (b) manipulable materials were created from the description provided in the Wellman and Peterson (2013) study along with parallel materials used in assessment probes, (c) a certified teacher of DHH children provided direct instruction to participants in a small group setting, (d) study length was increased to 25 weeks, and (e) methodological design change (i.e., group design to single-case design). These modifications addressed the need for evidence-based ToM interventions that are both proactive and easily implemented by teachers in a classroom setting. Results from the single-case design portion of the study indicate a functional relation between the thought bubble intervention and the participants’ acquisition of the targeted skills in each stage, although progress was not uniform. Results from the pre-post assessments indicate that the children did make progress up the scale, however, children who used spoken language tended to proceed faster through the stages than those who used sign language. These results inform the field in regard to the efficacy and feasibility of a ToM intervention for young DHH children.

A study of subtitling for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (SDH) with special reference to the Portuguese context. On the one hand it accounts for a descriptive analysis of SDH in various European countires with the aim of arriving at the norms that govern present practices and that may be found in the form of guidelines and / or in actual subtitled products. On the other hand, it is the result of an Action Research project that aimed at contributing towards the improvement of SDH practices in Portugal. These two lines of research are brought together in the proposal of a set of guidlines -Sistema de legendagem vkv - for the provision of SDH on Portuguese television. This research positions itself within the tradition of Translation Studies (TS) by taking a descriptive approach to its subject. Nonetheless it takes a step beyond to seek reasons and to propose change rather then simply to describe objects and actions. Given its topic and methodological approach, this research also drank for other fields of knowledge, such as Deaf Studies, Sociology, Linguistics and Cinema Studies, amongst others. In this contect SDH is addresssed as a service to Deaf and Hard - of - Hearing viewers, thus implying a functional approach to all that it entails. In order to arrive at an emcompassing understanding of the subject, in the body of this work we may find a summary of the history of SDH as well as an overview of the overriding and specific issues that characterise this type of subtitling. Following this, the Portuguese situation is made known through the account of five case studies that were carried out in the course of 2002 and 2003. In response to the needs and requirements of Portuguese Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing viewers, the proposed set of guidelines is based on the special concern for adequacy and readability and is envisaged as a useful tool for students and practitioners of SDH.

BACKGROUND: Many families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) pursue the development of spoken language through the use of advanced hearing technology and intensive, specialized listening and spoken language (LSL) intervention services. LSL practitioners utilize caregiver coaching to transfer knowledge and skills to parents, equipping them to effectively support their child's listening and language development. Caregiver coaching builds parents' capacity to implement intervention strategies within daily routines to maximize learning opportunities to reach this goal. While caregiver coaching is a hallmark of LSL practice, there is a lack of consensus and paucity of evidence to support its use with children who are DHH learning to listen and talk. The purpose of this research was therefore to gain a greater understanding of caregiver coaching practices in LSL services for families of children ages birth-3 who are DHH. OBJECTIVES: 1) to provide a synthesis of the literature and identify gaps in the existing knowledge base regarding coaching in LSL services, 2) to gain insight into practitioners' and caregivers' experiences with coaching in LSL services, and 3) to gain a better understanding of coaching practices in LSL services with families of children who are DHH. METHODOLOGY: The first objective was addressed by performing a scoping review of the literature to synthesize the relevant research and professional practice recommendations and identify gaps in the knowledge base regarding coaching caregivers in LSL practice. The remaining objectives were addressed through qualitative, semi-structured interviews and video observation discussions with LSL practitioners and caregivers to gain insight into caregivers' perspectives and practitioners' perspectives and practices. Interviews were conducted with 14 practitioners and 13 caregivers at three intervention sites in the US and Canada. These sites represent three different service delivery models of LSL intervention for families of children who are DHH. RESULTS: The scoping review findings revealed a lack of consensus in the literature regarding the principles and practices of caregiver coaching in LSL services. We presented the following topics found in the literature: coaching practices, training for coaching, the effectiveness of coaching, and recommendations for coaching. Caregivers reported coaching as a positive experience; however, coaching practices differed among sites and between practitioners, supporting the results of the scoping review. The caregivers indicated factors that contribute to a positive coaching relationship, including practitioner characteristics, establishing explicit expectations, and adapting to caregivers' changing needs over time. The practitioner interviews also supported a lack of consistency in coaching practices between sites and indicated that underlying beliefs impact how practitioners coach and engage caregivers. CONCLUSION: The findings from this dissertation provide practical, actionable steps that LSL practitioners can implement to develop and support the caregiver coaching relationship. These findings have the potential to inform professional preparation and development activities to better equip practitioners to engage caregivers in the intervention process, and ultimately, positively impact the listening and spoken language outcomes of the children they serve.

Η παρούσα εργασία αποτελεί μια πρώτη μελέτη των ορθογραφικών δεξιοτήτων των κωφών και βαρήκοων μαθητών της πρωτοβάθμιας και της δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης στην Ελλάδα. Σκοπό έχει να διερευνήσει εάν οι κωφοί και βαρήκοοι μαθητές είναι περισσότερο επιρρεπείς σε ορθογραφικά λάθη σε σύγκριση με τους ακούοντες, τι είδους λάθη κάνουν και εάν οι παράγοντες βαθμός ακουστικής απώλειας, είδος επικοινωνίας, εκπαιδευτική βαθμίδα και τύπος σχολείου επηρεάζουν τις ορθογραφικές επιλογές τους. Στην έρευνα συμμετείχαν 52 κωφοί μαθητές από σχολεία της Αθήνας, της Πάτρας και της Θεσσαλονίκης και 41 ακούοντες ως ομάδα ελέγχου. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι οι κωφοί και βαρήκοοι μαθητές κάνουν όλα τα είδη ορθογραφικών λαθών (φωνολογικά, γραμματικά, οπτικό-ορθογραφικά), ότι είναι περισσότερο επιρρεπείς σε ορθογραφικά λάθη συγκριτικά με τους ακούοντες και διαφέρουν σημαντικά από τους ακούοντες στην κατηγορία των φωνολογικών λαθών. Επιπλέον, οι παράγοντες βαθμός ακουστικής απώλειας, τύπος σχολείου και μέθοδος επικοινωνίας δεν επηρεάζουν τις ορθογραφικές επιλογές, ενώ η εκπαιδευτική βαθμίδα επηρεάζει τις ορθογραφικές επιλογές των κωφών και βαρήκοων μαθητών στο θεματικό μόρφημα (ρίζα) των λέξεων. / This paper is a first study of spelling skills of deaf and hard of hearing students in primary and secondary education in Greece. Specifically, it is examined whether the deaf and hard of hearing students are more prone to misspellings than hearing students, what kind of errors make and if hearing loss, method of communication, educational level and type of school affect their spelling choices. 52 deaf students from schools in Athens, Patras and Thessaloniki and 41 hearing as a control group participated in this study. The results showed that deaf and hard of hearing students make all kinds of spelling errors (phonological, grammatical, visual-orthographic), that they are more prone to misspellings than hearing students and differ significantly from the hearing in the category of phonological errors. Moreover, the degree of hearing loss, school type and method of communication do not affect spelling choices, while the level of education affects the spelling choices of deaf and hard of hearing students in the root of the words.

Σκοπός της εργασίας αυτής ήταν μια πρώτη μελέτη του παιχνιδιού και της επικοινωνίας των κωφών/βαρηκόων παιδιών με τα ακούοντα παιδιά μέσα σε ένα νηπιαγωγείο. Συγκεκριμένα, σκοπός μας είναι η μελέτη του κοινωνικού παιχνιδιού και του μη κοινωνικού παιχνιδιού των κωφών/βαρηκόων παιδιών, καθώς και της επικοινωνίας τους με το περιβάλλον τους (κωφά ή ακούοντα παιδιά) μέσα και έξω από τη τάξη. Στη παρούσα εργασία έγινε προσπάθεια να απαντηθούν τα εξής ερωτήματα: α) το είδος παιχνιδιού που χρησιμοποιούν τα κωφά/βαρήκοα παιδιά μόνα τους, μεταξύ τους ή/και με τα ακούοντα παιδιά, μέσα και έξω από τη τάξη και β) τον τρόπο επικοινωνίας που χρησιμοποιούν τα κωφά/βαρήκοα παιδιά μεταξύ τους ή/και με τα ακούοντα παιδιά, μέσα και έξω από τη τάξη. Στην έρευνα έλαβαν μέρος 10 παιδιά (Ν=10), από τα οποία τα πέντε ήταν κωφά/βαρήκοα και τα υπόλοιπα πέντε ήταν ακούοντα παιδιά, τα οποία αποτέλεσαν και την ομάδα ελέγχου. Τα αποτελέσματα της εργασίας έδειξαν ότι τα κωφά/βαρήκοα παιδιά αλληλεπιδρούν και επικοινωνούν με τα ακούοντα παιδιά, μέσα στη τάξη, ενώ δεν συμβαίνει το ίδιο, έξω από τη τάξη, αφού τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι τα κωφά/βαρήκοα παιδιά αλληλεπιδρούν και επικοινωνούν μόνο μεταξύ τους. Τέλος, τα αποτελέσματα αυτά θα πρέπει να ληφθούν υπόψη από τους εκπαιδευτικούς, προκειμένου οι τελευταίοι να αποκτήσουν τις απαραίτητες γνώσεις και πληροφορίες για τη σχολική ένταξη κωφών/βαρηκόων παιδιών σε σχολεία ακουόντων, με σκοπό να προσφέρουν ευκαιρίες για θετικές αλληλεπιδράσεις μεταξύ κωφών/βαρήκοων και ακουόντων παιδιών. / The aim of this assignment was a first study of the play and the communication among the deaf/hard of hearing children in the kindergarten. In particular, our aim is the study of social and non social play of deaf/hard of hearing children inside and outside of the classroom. At the present study, an effort was made to answer the following questions: a) the type of play that the deaf/hard of hearing children are using by themselves, between them or/and between hearing children, inside and outside the classroom and b) the way of communication, the deaf/hard of hearing children are using between them and/or the hearing children, inside and outside the classroom. In the study 10 children (N=10) participated, five of which were deaf/hard of hearing and the rest five were hearing children, which represented also the control group. The results of this assignment showed that the deaf/hard of hearing children interact and communicate with the hearing children, inside the classroom, but it does not happen the same outside the classroom, since the results showed that the deaf/hard of hearing children interact and communicate only among them. Finally, these results have to be taken under consideration by the teachers, so that they acquire the necessary knowledge and information for the school integration of the deaf/hard of hearing children in regular schools, with the purpose of offering opportunities for positive interactions between deaf/hard of hearing children and hearing children.

No description available.

In Saudi Arabia, deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) individuals rarely gain admission to Saudi universities, even though there is a law (i.e. the Disability Code) passed in 2000 to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to post-secondary educational opportunities as their non-disabled peers. In the 16 years since the passage of this law, some attempts were made to enroll D/HH students in Saudi universities. Unfortunately, most of these attempts failed and therefore the actual enrollment of D/HH students in higher education is still limited. Possible reasons may include faculty members’ insufficient knowledge about, and negative attitudes toward, people who are deaf and hard of hearing. A literature review revealed few studies investigating faculty members’ knowledge and attitudes toward D/HH students. This study is designed to investigate the level of knowledge and the attitudes Saudi faculty members have about deaf and hard of hearing students. Data were collected through a convenience survey of selected faculty members in a single Saudi university. All participants in the study were faculty members (N=224) in the Humanities Colleges and Scientific Colleges at the university. A quantitative descriptive correlational analysis on the data revealed that faculty members who participated in the study generally have adequate knowledge about hearing loss and positive attitudes towards enrollment and instruction of this population of students. However, age, college type, academic rank and length of teaching experience were found to have significant effects on the knowledge and attitudes of faculty members, whereas gender was not a discriminating factor. Implications for deaf education in higher education institutions and recommendations for further study are provided based on the results of this study.