Deaf school has benefited my son enormously

[Miss-Delectable]

I AM writing in response to Claire Campion-Smith's letter <I>(Evening Post, December 23) </I>in which she attempts to reassure readers that no child's education will suffer if the closure of Elmfield School goes ahead.

I AM writing in response to Claire Campion-Smith's letter (Evening Post, December 23) in which she attempts to reassure readers that no child's education will suffer if the closure of Elmfield School goes ahead.

My son currently attends Elmfield School For Deaf Children and has been there since 2004. I am very happy with his progress, and it has been wonderful to see him develop into a confident, independent boy who is an excellent communicator in his first language, British Sign Language. The school is giving him the skills for life that he needs and enabling him to develop a strong positive identity as a deaf person, while also teaching him how to cope within the hearing world. I can be confident that so far his education is not allowing his deafness to limit what he can achieve in life.

The council proposes replacing Elmfield School with a number of Hearing Impaired Resource Bases, despite the fact that an expert independent study into deaf education in the city (commissioned by the council) has strongly recommended that the school should continue. As the parent of two deaf children, one of whom is already placed in a resource base, I can confirm that even within one family, two deaf children may have vastly different needs.

Having direct experience of both sorts of educational provision, I would like to point out that while these bases do meet the needs of some children, they do not suit all. In fact, Elmfield School takes children who have been placed in resource bases but who have not been able to cope, let alone thrive, which is surely every child's right.

Ms Campion-Smith claims that these proposals "focus on addressing the individual needs of the child". In fact, they do exactly the opposite, and fly in the face of what the independent report recommended. Far from being reassured, I am shocked and upset that the council would consider the closure of such an effective school. Given that the nearest schools for deaf children are in Exeter and Birmingham, it is essential that Bristol continues to offer a full range of provision.

I hope that the council will reconsider this threat to my son and his peers' education, and make a commitment not just to recognise, but to expand Elmfield School as a regional centre of excellence in Bi-lingual Deaf education.

Caroline O'Brien

 

[deafdyke]

As the parent of two deaf children, one of whom is already placed in a resource base, I can confirm that even within one family, two deaf children may have vastly different needs.

Having direct experience of both sorts of educational provision, I would like to point out that while these bases do meet the needs of some children, they do not suit all. In fact, Elmfield School takes children who have been placed in resource bases but who have not been able to cope, let alone thrive, which is surely every child's right.

Exactly. Which is why we need to stick with a continum of placement for ALL dhh kids.
Granted a resource base is far better then a solotaire placement, but some kids do need a specialized Deaf School!

 

[jillio]

I know a principal in the mainstream who has deaf twins. One is a deaf school placement, and one is a resource base. That is where they each do well with their individual preferences and needs. He refuses to mainstream either one of them, though. I find that very telling since he is an administrator in the mainstream.

 

[deafdyke]

and one is a resource base. That is where they each do well with their individual preferences and needs. He refuses to mainstream either one of them, though. I find that very telling since he is an administrator in the mainstream

Yes. I wonder how popular solotaire mainstreaming would be if parents had even a CLUE of how their kids were being cheated out of an education. Yes, a solotaire placement is awesome for kids who just need minimal accomondations.....but god the administration is so effing clueless. Not to mention there's this attitude " Oh we'll take them as a student, but we won't give them more then minimal accomondations." :roll:

 

[Speedy Hawk]

I really hope that school won't close down. I see news about this a lot around here through twitter, facebook, even BBC.

 

[Miss-Delectable]

Consultation over plans to close Bristol's Centre for Deaf People

Consultation Bristol City Council Centre for Deaf People Bristol closure threat | This is Bristol

A consultation held in sign language has taken place over the planned closure of a specialist deaf school in Bristol.

Bristol City Council organised the event at the Centre for Deaf People Bristol, in King's Square, following proposals to close Elmfield School in Westbury-on- Trym.

Yesterday morning around 30 pupils, parents and staff members attended.

The council proposes to close the facility and open two Hearing Impaired Resource Bases (HIRBs) and a new base in a mainstream school.

t the meeting, a British Sign Language version of the consultation document was played by video and people were able to comment using sign language.

Interpreters were also on hand to note down comments.

Rebecca Vaughan, 16, a pupil at Elmfield, gave her views through an interpreter.

"It wouldn't be fair for the school to close," she said.

"The deaf identity in Bristol would be lost.

"I go to a mainstream school for English and I don't understand everything that is going on – sometimes I feel left out.

"Everyone else speaks a different language – that's what it feels like." Another student, Macaulay Bowyer-McNama, 13, said he would lose his identity if the school closed.

"I would feel lonely – I'm not sure I would get on with English speakers, it would be hard to communicate," he said.

A parent, who did not want to be named, said: "I hope the school doesn't close. In Bristol, Elmfield is the only specialist school for the deaf and we want to keep it."

Staff, parents and pupils at the school, in Greystoke Avenue, were outraged at the end of last year when the council made the proposal.

More than 2,000 people, including actress Barbara Windsor, have signed a petition against the closure saying the plans are not in the interests of the children.

TV presenter Sherrie Eugene-Hart, whose sister Judy is profoundly deaf, is also supporting the campaign.

"Deaf children have a right to quality specialist education," she said.

"Taking this away would be like tying their hands behind their backs and blindfolding them."

Anne James, principal equalities officer at Bristol City Council, said: "We are here today to provide a translation service so that the deaf community can fully express themselves.

"We are hoping many will express their views and take away a better understanding of the recommendations."

More information about the review is available at www. bristol.gov.uk.