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THE POWER OF SPEECH Students with hearing loss are thriving at John Wollaston Anglican Community School thanks to the Telethon Speech and Hearing Outpost Support Program.
The School is one of just 12 schools in the Perth metropolitan area, and the only Anglican school, operating a Telethon Speech and Hearing Outpost (TSH) on the campus which allows students to be fully immersed in all aspects of school life. Located in the Learning Enrichment Centre, the Outpost supports students of all ages in individual and small group settings. There are currently six students with moderate to severe hearing loss who receive support through the Program. Principal Anne Ford said the School was fortunate to have a Telethon Speech and Hearing Outpost. “Our Teachers of the Deaf and Education Assistants play an important role in supporting students with hearing loss so they can thrive in a classroom setting,” Ms Ford said. “Students receive assistance from outpost staff based on their individual needs with support covering areas such as extra language, speech, listening, social and emotional development.” 6
JOHN WOLLASTON ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Students take an active part in school life with their peers and are only withdrawn from classes if necessary. Teacher of the Deaf, Kendra Buss said Outpost students were able to participate in the whole school program as well as receive specialist instruction from the TSH team. “Parents are very appreciative that their children can learn alongside their peers in a caring, inclusive environment, whilst receiving specialist support at school to help them reach their potential. TSH students enjoy the opportunity to engage with each other, with one student recently saying he felt part of a ‘tribe’,” she said. The School hold an annual TSH Power of Speech event which celebrates the development and achievements of TSH students in Years 1 to 6, exposing students to public speaking and helping them develop the high-level skills required to give a three-minute speech in front of more than 150 people. In 2020, Year 3 student Abeer Ghous, won the Category 2 Award for his speech, ‘Be Kind, Be Strong’. In front of family members, VIPs and TSH staff, Abeer engaged and impressed the audience and judges with his explanation of what it means to be kind, leaving the
