Annual report 2002 - batod

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BATOD Annual Report 2001The last year has been an exciting one with many developments to reflect upon. It included our last AGM inCardiff, celebrating our 25 th Anniversary in style. We were fortunate enough to have excellent speakers. Weparticularly remember Christie Yoshinaga-Itano who travelled from Colorado to be with us. It was also goodto have so many Past Presidents with us for our special day, and the Magazine commemorating the eventis one of which to be proud. It was encouraging to see the support by other organisations too for our work,with whom we continue to have good working relationships.During the course of the year our activities have been especially supported by the National Deaf Children’sSociety (NDCS) and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID). This support is invaluable for us.During the year British Society of Audiologists (BSA) inaugurated their new Paediatric Audiology InterestGroup (PAIG). Our President was invited to speak at the first well-attended meeting. It is vital that, in thesechallenging times, with changes in two of our major areas of interest, education and audiology, that wework closely with relevant organisations, and we have continued to do so.Furthermore, BATOD has been represented at a wide variety of meetings which have been itemised in themagazine during the year. Meetings have taken place with, in addition to the RNID and NDCS, theGeneral Teaching Council (GTC(E)), the Education minister in Wales, the Special Needs Inspectorate inNorthern Ireland (with the local NDCS), the University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Parliament, theQualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), the Teacher Training Agency (TTA), the School Teachers’Review Body (STRB) and the UK Council on Deafness (UKCoD). We have also developed a closerelationship with Deaf@x in relation to the Government’s BECTa-run (British Educational CommunicationsTechnology Agency) communication aids project. The two organisations are responsible for the part of theproject which is supporting the communication needs of deaf children. The development of this project hasbeen described in the magazine.We have been raising throughout the year the particular circumstances of those Teachers of the Deafworking in advisory and support services particularly in the climate of increasing delegation of LEA funds toschools and the Government emphasis on inclusion, which relies on the quality of the support provided bysuch services. Indeed this has been a theme of our responses to consultative documents and has been amain agenda item in our various meetings with government and other bodies.BATOD has not only been represented at major meetings and with organisations in the UK, but we havealso extended our interests in Europe, with our membership of FEAPDA (European Federation ofAssociations of Teachers of the Deaf) and a good representation there at their recent Congress inStrasbourg. Our President, Sue Archbold, made one of the keynote speeches, and our presence was astrong one. Our Secretary, Paul Simpson, is now the Vice-President of FEAPDA and the next congress isto be held here in the UK in Autumn 2003.BATOD’s finances have exercised our minds throughout the year, and we agreed at our last AGM asubstantial increase in our subscriptions which has enabled us to establish a more secure financial footing.We were concerned as to whether this would result in a loss in membership, but, although we lost some,we are delighted that, overall, our membership has grown over the year. Following this, we advertised thepost of Secretary and had a most encouraging interest in the role. Paul Simpson was appointed and beganin his official capacity in September 2001. The amount of work now being undertaken – including attendingmeetings, responding to and collating consultation responses, dealing with a whole range of enquiries andsupporting the NEC - has shown us how much the post really was needed. Gone are the days of ringinground for someone to attend a meeting at the last minute! Consequently, BATOD’s profile in our fieldcontinues to be raised.We finally produced our own Continuing Professional Development (CPD) log which has been favourablyreceived; this is purely voluntary but many teachers, services and schools are finding it a useful method ofrecording professional development, without duplicating paperwork. BATOD has increased its work inproviding professional training in an accessible way during the year to support this emphasis onprofessional development. In developing BATOD’s professional role, we reflected during the year on our‘strap line’ and made the change from ‘Advancing the Profession’ to ‘Promoting Excellence in DeafEducation’.email: secretary@BATOD.org.uk BATOD Annual report 2001 BATODWebsite: www.BATOD.org.uk 21 The Haystacks, High WycombeAnswerphone / fax 01494 464190 page 5 Bucks HP13 6PY
These developments in our professional approach have been supported by our thinking about BusinessPlanning and the obtaining of professional advice. Professionals from outside our field were encouragingabout what we have achieved so far, and gave us practical advice about what to do next; we have almostcompleted our documentation about BATOD to support our applications for grants for projects. Ourorganisation is changing slightly to reflect our thinking: Officers have now been renamed as the SteeringGroup to enable others whose expertise is useful to be included where they can make an importantcontribution. There is an increasing emphasis on the role of the committees to respond to the flow of workneeding to be dealt with speedily by BATOD. It has been encouraging to see the renewed interest in thework of BATOD, reflected in increased membership, developments in the Regions and five new membersjoining the National Executive Council.The year continues to bring challenges to us all, not only in our professional area of education andparticularly special and deaf education, but in the related area of audiology. We have been heavily involvedin the developments in audiology in the introduction of UNHS and the introduction of digital hearing aids(MHAS - Modernisation of Hearing Aids Programme). These two programmes are particularly challenging,not only for us but for our colleagues in audiology where there is a major crisis arising from nationwide staffshortages. BATOD has ensured that teachers have been closely involved in decisions that are being madeand we have realised more than ever the importance of close liaison with our related professionalorganisations.Margaret Eatough has continued to work valiantly on the Survey and is currently producing a range ofreports for the DfES. NEC has decided to delay the Survey for a year to review its future with those whocomplete it for us, to ensure that it provides useful information for them. We need to ensure it has a firmbasis for the future which is both manageable and able to provide the information we require to enhanceour profession and to inform our meetings with Government and other bodies.Throughout the year we have become more and more aware of the importance of our specialism. This hasbeen underlined by the Government’s decision to maintain the mandatory qualification for the foreseeablefuture which we warmly welcome, although we still wish it to be extended to those working in a peripateticcapacity.The accounts of the work of the standing committees and the regions and countries which followemphasise the huge breadth and depth of our association’s work and highlight too the crucial role of multiprofessionalworking.The Audiology and Information Communication Technology (A&ICT) committee has been joined byseveral new people this year including Jenny Nicholson, Maggie Denholm, Sharon Pointeer and, withobserver status because of his representation of BATOD on the NCPA (National Committee forProfessionals in Audiology), Russell Brett - all of whom are making very welcome contributions to the workof A&ICT.A&ICT has been continuing to provide material for the Association Magazine on a regular basis.Furthermore, there is now an audiology section on the BATOD website created in response to rapid newdevelopments taking place. The January Magazine was audiology-focused and had an excellent CD onthe cover which was provided jointly by PC Werth, GN Resound and Oticon.Various courses have been organised this year including ICT courses in Middlesbrough and Birmingham.There have also been several Cochlear Implant workshops allowing delegates to practise troubleshootingand become confident in handling the devices.The committee has continued to work with organisations and government bodies including the DfES,Deafchild UK, RNID, NDCS, BECTa and NCPA. BATOD has established a small working party to keep upto-datewith developments in UNHS and to transmit information as soon as possible to members. SueArchbold is also on the NDCS Paediatric Audiology working party. Sharon Pointeer has recently attendeda QCA seminar about computer based assessment (accessibility issues).The DfES are updating their acoustic information about schools and have consulted A&ICT. For the firsttime, there will be reference to Sound Field Systems. We are grateful to Russell Brett for his work in thisarea.Peter Preston (along with Paul Simpson, BATOD Secretary) is involved with the BECTa £10 millionCommunication Aids Project (CAP) to ensure that deaf children have access to the communicationequipment available through this Government initiative. BATOD is working with Deaf@x to provide one ofthe six ‘centres’ which has been named the DCCAP (Deaf Children’s Communication Aids Project) throughwhich teachers and parents can apply for assessments of deaf children’s communication needs.email: secretary@BATOD.org.uk BATOD Annual report 2001 BATODWebsite: www.BATOD.org.uk 21 The Haystacks, High WycombeAnswerphone / fax 01494 464190 page 6 Bucks HP13 6PY
Page 1 and 2: The British Association of Teachers
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Page 10 and 11: With ever increasing costs and work
Page 12 and 13: Planning is now in process for the
Page 14 and 15: In July, BATOD Scotland responded t
Page 16 and 17: Elections to the National Executive
Page 18 and 19: The British Association of Teachers
Page 20: Published by The British Associatio

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