NZSL IN SCHOOLS

For Deaf/hearing impaired children

A number of organisations provide education to young Deaf people in New Zealand, including:

• Deaf Education Centres
• NZ Federation of Deaf Children
• Special Education, Ministry of Education
• School of Languages, Auckland University of Technology
• Deaf Studies Unit, Victoria University of Wellington

Deaf Aotearoa has more information on NZSL in schools

For hearing children

The NZSL Tool Kit is also an excellent resource for mainstream teachers to teach NZSL in their classroom. It doesn't matter if there are Deaf and/or hearing impaired children in classrooms, schools can order Tool Kit/s and teach both Deaf and hearing children. To order your Kit and to find out more here

While many schools offer students the opportunity to learn Maori or a foreign language, NZSL is not offered as a subject despite being an official language. A new NZSL in Schools curriculum developed by Kelston Deaf Education Centre will be a great tool to encourage all schools in New Zealand to teach hearing students how to communicate with Deaf students. It is modern and fun way for hearing students to learn a visual language. Contact the Ministry of Education for a copy of NZSL Curriculum.