Project Background
- The Ministry of Education approved of our project on the 8th of September b2016.
- We commenced basic data collection from the schools for the Deaf in Lagos State a few weeks after.
- Our basic data collection included:
- School name
- School location
- School type (i.e. inclusive or special)
- Students’ population
- Teachers’ population
- Students’ case study, etc.
Project Objectives
- To produce a comprehensive documentation of deaf schools/units in Lagos State.
- To produce a comprehensive documentation of deaf students and their signed language in Lagos State.
- To document the teachers and parents of deaf students in Lagos State.
- To introduce Deaf Peer Mentoring Program.
- To introduce Family Intervention Program to parents of deaf students.
The Lead Team
- Emma Asonye, PhD. Research Scholar, University of New Mexico, USA
President, Save the Deaf and EndangeredLanguages Initiative.
- Lisa Swanson
MA (Gallaudet) Deaf Counsellor/Mentor, New Mexico, USA
- Ann Swanson
Early/Family Intervention Expert, New Mexico School for the Deaf, USA
- Promise Anyanwu
Lagos Coordinator, Save the Deaf and Endangered Languages Initiative.
Project Data Facts
- We have identified 41 schools that have deaf sections. (Number was confusing at the beginning)
- One deaf association with over 1000 adult members.
- We have got some basic data from 23 schools.
- We visited 5 out of the 24 Schools.
- The 5 schools have a total 209 deaf students, i.e. all schools have an average of 41.8 students.
- Students age range – 13 to 25 years (secondary), 5 to 17 (primary). (The age of 5 is interesting here)
- Almost all students start school very late.
- From case history and interactions, ¾ of the students acquired hearing loss after birth-age 0-5yrs.
- Total of 60 parents met, only 3 can attempt to sign.
Summary of Project Activities
-
- From the onset of our study till date:
- 41 Deaf schools/units have been identified, comprising:
- All inclusive
- 36 Primary, 5 Secondary
- Basic data have been collected from 24 schools
- During our 5-day Outreach/School Visit
- 5 schools were visited
- Sensitization forums were held with parents, teachers and students.
- Peer mentoring program (PMP) was introduced
