Have you ever wondered what that black square thing is that some of the teachers wear around their necks?
It’s called a Phonak Roger device. It’s a specialised microphone that sends the speaker’s voice directly to your ear, making their speech clearer and easier to understand. This technology supports deaf and hard-of-hearing children by helping them hear from a distance and reducing background noise.
At Northshore, many of our teachers use this device to create a more accessible and effective listening and learning environment for our deaf and hard-of-hearing students who are a part of the Outpost program.
The Outpost Program supports students with hearing loss to fully access the same educational and social opportunities as their peers, providing comprehensive in-school support from primary through to secondary. Our team of education and allied health professionals works closely with the Northshore team to ensure each student receives the level of support that best meets their individual needs. Every student has an individualised program created collaboratively with parents, school staff and the Outpost team. This support may include language, speech, auditory, social/emotional, occupational therapy or academic assistance tailored specifically to each child.
In Week 2 of Term 4, our whole school once again went above and beyond, filling the day with colour and brightness as everyone WORE IT LOUD. Students got creative by decorating paper shirts in the undercover area and completing fun craft activities in class. It was a busy day, especially with our Come and Try event happening too, but it created a wonderful opportunity for new families and students to be part of a much-loved Northshore tradition.
Thanks to your donations this year, the Northshore community has not only helped raise awareness about hearing loss but has also directly supported children with hearing loss in WA to access inclusive and equitable education. How incredible is that! Thank you, Northshore, for your continued kindness and generosity.
Article by Ms Amy Ricciardi – Special Education Teacher of the Deaf
