Annual report 2002 - batod

Planning is now in process for the next twilight meeting and the 2002 conference. It is hoped thatBirmingham will provide the venue. In response to requests from BATOD members, it is likely that thetwilight meeting will once again have a pre-school focus. In October the theme will be Deafness andadditional needs.The previous Chair of the South West Committee, Linda Lang, stepped down in November 2000having extended her period of office.The year started therefore with John Shaw as Chair, Sue Barnsley as Vice Chair, Fiona Elsworth asSecretary and Harriet Nott as Treasurer.The Committee is well represented by teachers from across the region with the exception of the old Avonarea and the Elmfield School for the Deaf.Exeter and the Royal West of England School for the Deaf, remains the usual meeting point although,given the geographical nature of the area and distances people have to travel, there has been a move touse conference call facilities on a couple of occasions throughout the year.The main event of the year was a conference focused on ‘Dyspraxia in Deaf Children’. The event was wellattended and all participants valued the presentations given by Lynne Roberts, Specialist Speech andLanguage Therapist for Deafness, and Sarah Bowcott, Speech and Language Therapist. There was also,at the end of the day, an opportunity for teachers to share ideas on the teaching of literacy and numeracy.There were plans to hold a second conference looking at Cochlear Implants and recent developments butthis will now not take place until early 2002. Concern about numbers attending events remains, although intalking to other Committees in similar rural areas the South West enjoys reasonable attendance.Financially the Committee has managed its budget well. Consequently, no bid for financial assistance wasnecessary from the Association’s Treasurer.The Northern Ireland AGM was held as usual in the Postgraduate Centre at Craigavon. OwenLang from BioAcoustics gave an address on the use of Sound Field Systems. A large turnout ofmembers appreciated this presentation. Some members are encouraging Boards to financethese systems in schools throughout the province.Due to the foot and mouth crisis the Spring meeting had to be postponed. The Summer meeting was heldat the Queen’s University in Belfast. It was addressed by Colin Miller, Special Needs Advisor from theSouth Eastern Education and Library Board. The theme was Children with Additional Needs.After this a social function took place in which a retirement presentation was made to Mr Harry Kernohan.Harry has had a distinguished career in both Ireland and England and has been actively involved inBATOD on both sides of the Irish Sea. During his time on the committee his commitment to BATOD was anexample to all members. His sharp wit and keen sense of humour will be greatly missed.Olive McManus the Northern Ireland Chair for the past two years represented BATOD N Ireland at the 25 thanniversary celebrations in Cardiff in March.BATOD NI was delighted that the post of part-time secretary had been created nationally.Committee time this year has been used to discuss the production of a Regional newsletter, obtainingfunding from the regional Training unit to run a full-day course for Teachers of the Deaf and cross-Boardtraining days (there are five Boards). It was felt that if training money was combined some worthwhileactivities specific to our particular needs could be arranged.An audit of courses was undertaken to see which areas might need attention in future meetings.The cochlear implant special interest group is now up and running and it was felt that it might beadvantageous now to consider setting up another group - whether for under 2s and pre-schoolers or agroup for teachers working with 11-16 year olds.Much thought has been given this year to taking meetings around the province but this was not felt to befeasible as the majority of Teachers of the Deaf are in the greater Belfast area. The one meeting held outof Belfast last year resulted in most Teachers of the Deaf from Belfast decamping to Craigavon withoutencouraging any more teachers from outlying areas to attend.email: secretary@BATOD.org.uk BATOD Annual report 2001 BATODWebsite: www.BATOD.org.uk 21 The Haystacks, High WycombeAnswerphone / fax 01494 464190 page 11 Bucks HP13 6PY