Deaf children and their hearing classmates in Woodford spent the day learning all about deafness on Tuesday 14 May with a series of informative and engaging workshops.
The workshops were organised by the National Deaf Children’s Society as part of its Roadshow, an eight ton purple lorry that tours the country and turns into a high-tech classroom.
The Roadshow visited Roding Primary School in Woodford and passed on support, advice and information to some of Essex’s over 800 deaf children and their hearing friends, teachers and parents.
One of the workshops, Look, Smile, Chat, provided advice and tips on how to communicate with a deaf child:
Get their attention with a wave, or a tap on the shoulder
Speak one at a time
Face them when speaking
Don’t cover your mouth
Be visual! Don’t be afraid to use gestures or actions
Never give up and say “I’ll tell you later”!
Another of the workshops promoted mental health support for deaf children. Through creative and fun activities, deaf children learnt what good emotional health is and how best to ensure both their bodies and minds remain healthy, including ideas for managing their own mental health.
The National Deaf Children’s Society also showcased the latest technology and equipment available to deaf children to accompany the key skills learnt on the day. This included flashing doorbells, vibrating alarm clocks and technology that helps deaf children listen to an iPod or mobile phone.
