Concerns are growing that, if numbers of teachers for the deaf continue to decline, children with the condition may have to rely on themselves. According to the National Deaf Children’s Society, teacher of the deaf positions that are lying vacant for more than a year constitute about 10% of the overall total. This presents an issue since deaf children rely heavily on support from specialist teachers to properly engage in their education. It is consequently claimed that deaf children are at risk of full-time school exclusion, falling behind in their studies, and facing hardship as adults.
For instance, statistics show that deaf individuals are more likely to be unemployed and poorly paid, compared to those without the condition. In an interview, Susan Daniels, the CEO of the NDCS, discussed how teacher shortages will likely compound the challenges that these children already face. She noted that without the necessary support, children with disabilities would be ‘shunted into low-paid jobs and won’t be able to fulfil their potential”. Consequently, Daniels suggests that there needs to be a concerted effort to ensure that the training and support necessary to address teacher shortage is available.
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about new challenges in ensuring that specialist services are available for deaf children. The services are vital as masks and such measures often pose a significant communication barrier for deaf individuals. Thus, specialist teachers may be the only factor that can mitigate against significant impact from the challenges presented by COVID-19. However, if there are not enough teachers available, as is the case now with considerable vacancy numbers, deaf children will be left alone in navigating a difficult educational environment.
Overall, it is apparent that the declining number of teachers for the deaf can have a wide-ranging impact on the lives of deaf children. Without the necessary support, these children are at risk of exclusion from school, aversion from employment, and undue hardship in their future lives. Therefore, measures must be taken to ensure that the teaching positions are filled and that adequate support is available
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