Course curriculum

  • 1

    Course content

    • PowerPoint

    • From Mode to Meaning: The Shift from Communication Mode to Language Priority in Deaf Education

    • Quiz

    • Evaluation

    • Continuing Education Credits

Course information

Course description: This workshop will explore the evolution of Deaf Education, shifting from a focus on communication modes (oral, manual, total communication) to language access and development. Participants will examine research-backed evidence on brain development, the critical period for language acquisition, and the long-term effects of language deprivation. Through case studies, interactive discussions, and role-playing activities, attendees will gain practical strategies to collaborate across disciplines, assess language needs dynamically, and implement bilingual-bimodal approaches in educational settings.

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Agenda:

10 minutes: Introduction: Overview of Deaf Education’s evolution

15 minutes: Historical Context: Past vs. present focus in Deaf Education

20 minutes: The Importance of Language First: Brain development & research on language deprivation

20 minutes: Collaborative Roles: How SLPs, deaf educators, and interpreters can work together

20 minutes: Implementation Strategies: Dynamic Language Assessments, classroom supports, and intervention strategies

10 minutes: Interactive Role-Playing: IEP meeting simulation and problem-solving


Learner outcomes:

Participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the historical shift from communication modes to language priority in Deaf Education
  2. Identify the impact of language deprivation on cognitive, academic, and socio-emotional development
  3. Analyze research findings supporting bilingual-bimodal language development.

Instructor(s)

Frances Courson

Dr. Frances Flowers Courson received her undergraduate degree in Deaf Education from the University of Montevallo where she was awarded a scholarship award for excellence in teaching Deaf children. She earned her Master of Science in Deaf Education from Texas Woman’s University, and her doctoral degree, Ed.D, in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, from Lamar University. Frances lived among the Deaf of Russia in Moscow with her family for 10 years where she learned Russian and Russian Sign Language. She holds the National Interpreting Certification (NIC) and Educational: K-12 certificate from the Registry of Interpreters of the (RID). She has taught all ages/grades of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children from preschool to high school in her career. She currently is an assistant professor at the University of Montevallo in Deaf Education. Her research interests include teaching writing to deaf and hard of hearing students and higher education pedagogy of pre-service teachers of the deaf. She enjoys spending time with her granddaughters and grandson every chance she gets!

Taylor Bowen

Taylor Bowen has been a dedicated Deaf Educator since 2013, working to support and empower Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students in various educational settings. Currently, he serves as a Teacher of the Deaf in a large public school district in Alabama, where he provides direct instruction and language access to students across multiple grade levels. In addition to his work in K-12 education, he is an adjunct professor at the University of Montevallo, where he teaches courses related to Deaf Education and helps prepare future educators to work with DHH students.

Speaker disclosures

Financial disclosures: The presenters are receiving royalties from Language First for this course.

Nonfinancial disclosures: The presenters have no relevant nonfinancial disclosures.

Continuing education

This course is offered for 0.15 ASHA CEUs.
This course is offered for 0.15 RID CEUs.