Abstract
In 2001, South Africa introduced White Paper nr 6 to promote inclusive education, aiming to integrate learners with disabilities into mainstream classrooms. Furthermore, the adoption of South African Sign Language (SASL) as an official language in 2022, emphasizes the inclusivity of the Deaf learner. However, deaf learners and their educators face significant challenges, such as communication barriers and inadequate teacher training, hindering effective teaching and learning. Challenges persist due to dialectical variations in South African Sign Language and limited curriculum integration. Research suggests deaf individuals excel in visual-spatial tasks, highlighting the importance of leveraging visual strengths for academic achievement. Practical hurdles remain in terms of theoretical and abstract concepts, especially in Visual Arts, necessitating comprehensive support and tailored approaches. Despite being a small enrolment subject, Visual Arts offers a broader perspective through Visual Culture Studies (VCS), exploring visual representations such as non-figurative concepts and subject jargon. This research focuses on specific challenges faced by Visual Arts teachers and Deaf learners in teaching VCS, to enhance instructional effectiveness through vicarious learning. Sub-questions explore barriers to hearing-impaired learning, and the role of language instruction, considering South African deaf learners’ unique characteristics and cultural differences. The study proposes possible solutions for inclusive Visual Arts and VCS education, raising awareness among educational bodies, and advocating for equitable opportunities for all learners.
Presenters
Carina DelportStudent, Masters in Fine Arts/ Visual Cultural Studies, University of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa Calvin Marais
Student, Masters of Education, The University of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Visual Arts, Visual Culture Studies, Deaf Education, Inclusivity, Vicarious Learning
