Deaf Unit

A satellite unit of the Kelston Deaf Education Centre, the deaf unit situated at Papatoetoe High School caters for the growing number of deaf students who live in the South Auckland region.   The unit is staffed by three full-time qualified teachers of the deaf, two educational associates and one full-time educational interpreter.

The students demonstrate a range of hearing losses and consequently teachers use a range of communication modes - some use mainly oral communication while others use full New Zealand sign language.

A number of specialist services based at KDEC visit on a regular basis - guidance councillors, speech therapists, physiotherapist, audiologists, NZSL assistants and Maori language tuturs are all available to cater for the needs of the students.

Whenever possible students are mainstreamed with in-class assistance, however teaching is also done in the unit's three mini-classrooms and computer suite when more direct intensive teaching may be needed.  An example of this is the very successful ESOL programme and newly established ASDAN programme for those students with additional learning challenges.