Work for this term 3

Screening- for visual and hearing impairments.

Linking with and further developing  work already researched and initiated by other volunteers, in conjunction with medical experts, Haruna and I have begun setting up routine screening in the district’s kindergarten schools.

Haruna is a trained visual impairment specialist. In Ghana both visual and hearing impairment are understood and specialist residential educational establishments have been operating for years.

We are training nominated teachers, one for each of the 5 local kindergarten/primary  schools we are trialing, to share the screening processes, and to record and maintain data on pupils with any causes for concern before referral to the hospital for full assessment. Screening procedures resemble those used by health visitors or school nurses in the UK, are low tech. and if done carefully, are a useful indicator of possible problems with vision and hearing. Training is a slow process, but the teachers we have worked with are interested and receptive.

 Haruna and I have constructed the screening kit- Blue Peter style- with a Snellings chart (a reading chart using capital E letters) for sight testing the only commercially produced item.

A parallel programme has been operating for three months in another rural district, three hundred children have been screened and useful data collected. The nominated trained teachers are beginning to recognize other possible disabilities and have a better understanding of the purpose of assessment.

Haruna fashions our kit for screening:- the hearing  items are`made from  used  cleaned Ideal Milk tins, with stones or rice added: all very "Blue Peter"

Special schools and units.

In addition, with Haruna, I have visited a number of special schools within a 30 mile radius of  Bolgatanga, linking with fellow Special Education officer Roland, travelling everywhere on a motorbikes. While the same problems of lack of specialist teachers and resources abound, the schools have caring staff, smaller class sizes, have adapted curriculums and are promoting inclusion.  I have delivered training  sessions and demonstration lessons on using motor skills and active learning practices, with more activities planned for January 2013.

A shared demonstration lesson at an excellent SEN unit in Bolgatanga

There is a need for more specialist schools and units attached to mainstream schools around Zebilla town ( as in every population locality) to serve the district and the children with disabilities currently not in schools.

We will be using the list of children registered with Social Welfare as disabled- but not attending school- to conduct sample home visits to investigate reasons and seek solutions.