Presentation: (6-7pm) Innovations in Assistive Technology: a pathway to independence and self-determination for deaf and hard of hearing children and young people.

For many deaf and hard of hearing students, sophisticated amplification devices, automatic captioning and communication systems are the cornerstones of assistive technology (AT) that provide access to communication, socialisation and inclusion in their home and community environments.

So important is AT on a global level that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) consider AT to be pivotal to the realization of rights of persons with disabilities and a pathway to independence and self-determination.

Teachers of the Deaf play an essential role in ensuring that compliance with the CRPD is observed in school communities by advocating for the rights of deaf young people to access the technology they need. While technological developments have undoubtedly played an important part in fostering increased autonomy and self-determination for deaf students, without dedicated support and advocacy from Teachers of the Deaf, the impact of this technology may be limited.

This presentation will provide an opportunity for Teachers of the Deaf to discuss the breadth of their role and consider possibilities for innovative approaches to accessing AT for deaf students they teach and support.