ERIC Number: EJ903170
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1544-6751
EISSN: N/A
Two-Way Text Messaging Solves Key Socialization Issues for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teens and Their Parents
Akamatsu, C. Tane; Mayer, Connie; Farrelly, Shona
Odyssey: New Directions in Deaf Education, v9 n1 p46-49 Spr-Sum 2008
This article describes a pilot project that examined the use of a two-way text messenger for deaf and hard of hearing teens and their parents. The study took place at two large inner-city public high schools and in grade 8 of their feeder school. The vast majority of the students in the study had severe to profound congenital hearing loss and were being educated in congregated settings by teachers who were specially trained to teach this population. Before using the equipment, each participant took part in a pre-use survey designed to elicit thoughts on how the participants thought the two-way text messengers might be used prior to actually having any experience with them. With the text messaging system in place, the students believed that they would be able to go out at night without their parents and to manage in case they got lost. The parents and staff reported that they were able to have direct communication with the students and with those among the parents and staff who were deaf or hard of hearing. This eliminated some safety concerns about fire alarms and emergency procedures and contributed to the ease of coordination of everyone's activities. The majority of the students and their parents expressed satisfaction with access to the technology.
Descriptors: Pilot Projects, Deafness, Grade 8, Handheld Devices, Adolescents, Parents, Parent Child Relationship, Urban Schools, Hearing Impairments, Communication Strategies, Foreign Countries, High Schools, Interpersonal Communication
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center. Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Avenue NE, KS 3600, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-526-9105; Tel: 202-651-5340; Fax: 202-651-5708; e-mail: odyssey@gallaudet.edu; Web site: http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 8; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A