Bringing Deaf histories to life for Aotearoa’s Deaf and hearing students.
The challenge
While Aotearoa New Zealand’s history curriculum continues to expand to reflect the diverse narratives of its people, few resources focus on the histories of Deaf New Zealanders. This lack of representation often leaves Deaf students without materials that reflect their culture and history, while hearing students miss an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of Deaf culture in Aotearoa. Additionally, resources that do exist generally lack New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), making them inaccessible to Deaf students and educators.
How could we create a comprehensive, NZSL-supported resource that would make the histories of Deaf New Zealanders accessible and engaging for both Deaf and hearing students?
The solution
Lift Education collaborated with Ko Taku Reo to create a rich, inclusive resource package designed to bring Deaf histories to life for all students. The resources include NZSL to ensure that Deaf students and teachers can fully engage with and explore their own histories. We created a visually engaging ‘Our Stories’ poster that showcases Deaf history and aligns with the ANZH curriculum, and an interactive Google Slides resource with five pivotal moments in Deaf New Zealand history. Using various forms of media, each topic is paired with discussion questions. The Teacher Support Material offers educators practical tips and guidance on effectively teaching Deaf histories, alongside insights into the cultural significance of each topic.
ClientMinistry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
