I was also wondering, what happens if the special needs students, mostly deaf and dumb, need counselling? How could that be done effectively? Especially if the school counsellor is not an expert in sign language. This might create a lot of confusion between the counsellor and client, right? Either one might not be able to comprehend or convey the correct message.
That's where this thought struck me, "Could using e-counselling help special needs students as well as help the counsellor?" I thought it would be ideal and able to solve the problem of explanation through sign language, the client could write out the problems/issues faced with and the counsellor could reply accordingly. I thought, BINGO! Great idea!
However, when I posed this question to the teachers, most agreed with the idea, but they shared that some of the students can't even write proper sentences, hence, how to write and express their thoughts and feelings? They can't use the phone/video conferencing through Skype as they cannot hear or speak... even if they were to sign through Skype, but, if the receiver is not well versed with signing, it'll defeat its purpose. Am still trying to find an answer to this.
Some intresting signs. Tried using, no one understood what I was trying to say... :-)
wow... interesting, i used to join once, but i didn't have much opportunity to practice my sign language. i loose it up.
ReplyDeleteJo, i am doing samething as u, but i am joint v Dr.Lai and Ms Silviana on yesterday (23rd May） 爱他AiK hWA SCHOOl, near citytel.
i am as vonluteer to help up in the workstation to proviede nescesarry info about how to help the special children fron DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE.
Good job, done, Jo. Gosh, so envy that X10 have a little extra time for volunteering job. I am always facinated by these group of Special Children.
ReplyDeleteJo - is this the sign language that's used in My? The British one is different but this one you've embedded above is the US one. I used to teach signing as an after school club here in KL but some of my students went to visit the local deaf club at the YMCA and said that the members there were using a sign system that was similar to the US one but not quite the same.
ReplyDeleteYAY!!! THANKS!!! You guys really made my day. So happy that there are people reading my blog. Yes, above is the basic sign language that's used, but it seems in that school, they also have to memorize certain block sign language that's given by the Ministry. Some of the teachers feedback were the students themselves before attending school are signing in their own way and style, hence making it difficult for the teachers to communicate with them due to the inconsistencies.
ReplyDeleteI dreamed a dream in time gone by,
ReplyDeleteWhen hope was high and life, worth living.
I dreamed that love would never die,
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.
Then I was young and unafraid,
And dreams were made and used and wasted.
There was no ransom to be paid,
No song unsung, no wine, untasted.
Thanks for inviting me to ur blog...seemed Susan Boyle is inspiring for you too. I have a few lines of the lyrics here. We are also having DreamAdream with 22 children. Do come by visit on Sat or Sun.
We have a number of deaf online counsellors within our Association of Counselling and Therapy Online ACTO. This is one of the reason why they chose to become online counsellors as text is the equalizing variable between hearing and hard of hearing population in an online environment. Example you have seen in the Mission Impossible I had Clinton speaking for me. I just type the message and he does the speaking. Online counselling is not only limited to text as images, drawings, etc are also available tools for communication.
ReplyDelete