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School Journal Level 2, Monsters

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Sign Language Week! Monday 9th - Friday 13th May, 2022

Presented by: Naomi Ngawati

 

Sign Language Week!

New Zealand Sign Language is unique to New Zealand and is the main language of New Zealand's Deaf community. NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language) is a way of communicating using visual gestures and signs, this became an official language in April 2006. 

Why is New Zealand Sign Language an official language?

New Zealand Sign Language was made an official language of New Zealand "as a vehicle to promote and maintain the use of this language". It is the native language of Deaf New Zealanders, and they have no easy access to communication{s} without it!

New Zealand Sign Language Timeline

1880	Sumner School for Deaf opened in the 1880s in Sumner, Christchurch.   At Sumner School for Deaf students were educated only in spoken language skills (oralism).
1970	In the 1970s, Signed English was introduced in Deaf education.   Signed English uses signs in an English language structure.
1995	In 1995, NZSL was introduced at Kelston Deaf Education Centre (Auckland) and  soon after at van Asch Deaf Education Centre (Christchurch).
1997	The Concise Dictionary of NZSL was launched.   It was a landmark publication with over 4000 illustrated signs.
2006	The New Zealand Sign Language Act came into effect on 6 April 2006. This saw NZSL become an official language in New Zealand alongside English and Te Reo Maori.  Visit the Office of Disability Issue's website for more information about the history of the New Zealand Sign Language Act.
2011	NZSL Interpreters are used for televised media briefings following the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch. The 5th anniversary of New Zealand Sign Language Week – 2nd-8th May 2011.

History!

NZSL is a natural language of the Deaf community and it reflects New Zealand culture by including signs for Maori terminology and concepts. There are more than 24,000 New Zealander's that use sign language daily. It is also the 12th most frequently used language out of 190 languages currently used in New Zealand.

Census 2018, Statistics New Zealand shows that approximately there are 4,599 deaf people who use NZSL as a form of communication and approximately 20,000 people in total who utilize NZSL (this includes parents who use this form of communication with their deaf child). 

Things to remember about NZSL!

• NZSL is a natural language that conveys information through a wide range of movements and expression.

• NZSL is not just finger spelling.
  

• NZSL is not a universal "Deaf" language.

• NZSL is not about miming or gestures.

Musical Talent

 Another proud example....when students focus on their strengths and are warmly encouraged by their teachers and school staff.  

https://youtu.be/9m-TWOTXbHU

Paralympics

Did you know that while the Olympics are over....the Paralympics are on....check out our athletes! We had our Basketball Special Olympics for our students cancelled due to our current lock down here; it is always something we really look forward to attending. However, onwards and upwards and we are looking forward to the next event!

Paralympics NZ

Time for reflection

 This post is as one of the teachers who work with students....not just special needs, although it is probably especially important in many of these cases. I just came across this in my own time.... It rather made me think...so I am sharing....

One thing I have learnt in years of teaching is that we often forget to check in with the 'quiet' students. We can sometimes assume that in our busy days if they aren't making noise, if they are 'cruising along nicely' then they are ok, maybe they are :) 

But sometimes we need to look a little deeper to remember that not everyone expresses themselves outwardly, adults and children alike. :) 

Whaea Patti 

Understanding Differences - A Speech by One of our Students

 One of my proudest moments in my time in this role as Specialist Teacher here at BOIC so far has been sitting to support one of our students to write and present to his class a special speech.  Below you can read the speech - he has given me permission to share it (although  I have changed the name) and I hope you learn something from it, as I sure did! An up and coming speaker in the future to watch out for!  

  Understanding Differences

Kia ora koutou katoa my name is Sam and I am in front of you to share a story. I am just like all of you... I am labeled by my gender - I’m a boy. I am labeled by my age - I am a  teenager. I am labeled by what I do - I am a student. I am labeled by my place in the family - I am a son, I am also a brother. I have a couple of extra labels. I have Asperger's’ Syndrome and I have seizures.

Here’s the thing….I want you all to go away from my speech understanding that…..it’s ok to be different. We are all different. What it is not ok to do is to make fun of different peoples “labels” that they are given. Get to know people before you start judging them. If you got to know me you would know that I am not just a “white boy”, I have a strong and proud Whakapapa. I have Asperger’s Syndrome but I am not “stupid” or “dumb”. I'm not “weird” just because I can’t control my seizures. I’ve heard all this and more, it's enough!

People need education about this. And I'm here to give it  

Let's start with my Asperger's… you may be thinking what really is Asperger's? 

Asperger's is a difficulty that affects communication and social skills. It is part of the Autism Spectrum. The Autism spectrum or ASD affects communication (verbal and non verbal), social skills and behavior in different ways. There can be commonalities for students who have ASD, but they interpret the world differently to other students. I also have non epileptic seizures. Basically these seizures are brought on by stress and anxiety. It means the brain isn't coping with everything going on. 

 However this does not mean that they are not what you call “normal”. It also doesn’t mean that they are less intelligent. 

In fact, you may recognize some of these names; they are some of the worlds most creative and intelligent people. Kanye West, a talented producer and musician, who struggled with epileptic seizures. Ed Sheeran, a successful and talented songwriter who overcame speech difficulties. Also, Bill Gates who is one of the most successful innovators and entrepreneurs of our modern time. Who has autism and was badly bullied.

I’m going to give you some examples of how I’ve been drowned in discrimination since an early age.

I can remember when I was in primary school, friends were hard to come by and if I did find some they usually didn’t stick around. This is because my Asperger’s was never understood.  People didn’t know why I was different. They could see how I acted differently…..but no one understood why! My behaviour, like anger and violence was because of the anxiety I felt inside school.  Anxiety over things that might not bother other people such as getting into groups for work.  Often I was left with people looking at me with resentment or fear.  This was a lonely feeling.

Fast forward to high school.  I was excited and ready to start fresh at high school.  But just before the new school year started I was put in the hospital for a week.  I had started having seizures, and nobody knew why.  There was no diagnosis and no real reason why, even though I had lots of tests. Not only was I worried about myself, but my mum and dad struggled seeing their son in a hospital bed with no answers. So I didn’t get to start school with everyone else. In fact, I was not allowed to come to school for a very long time.  That made it so hard and frustrating for me. I was sick of being so different from everyone else. I just wanted to go to school and learn.  This feeling once again...led to me becoming quite depressed.  When finally I was able to join back at school normally, people still kept pointing out my seizures.

Basically, feeling bullied or judged or isolated has been a constant theme in my life up until now, and this has appeared in many different forms.  To try to illustrate this let me tell you about culture.  A lot of people assume that I am ‘white’.  Which part of me is. And I’m not sorry about that. But by calling me ‘white’ in judgement is to deny and disrespect the other parts of my culture and identity.   

Ko Poerua te maunga 

Ko owhareiti to roto 

Ko Tumatauenga te marae 

Ko ngati Teara ngati kopaki te hapu

Ko nga Puhi te iwi 

I'm not saying I’m innocent.  I have made fun of people, I’ve judged people and I’ve been the bully myself. But I’m learning just like everyone else each day how to be a better me. 

He aroha whakato, he aroha puta mai -

If kindness is sown then kindness you shall receive.