What materials can you use both in the classroom and at home to raise awareness among children about hearing impairment? Fortunately, there are now more and more stories, resources and films to talk about diversity with children and bring them closer to other realities.
The last week of September marks the International Day of Deaf People , the date chosen by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and whose origin dates back to 1958. However, it is currently a commemoration, since 2018, September 23 is the International Day of Sign Languages , whose purpose is to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people, as explained by the United Nations.
According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are about 70 million deaf people worldwide who use more than 300 different sign languages . More than 80% live in developing countries. In total, 466 million people worldwide suffer from hearing problems.
According to the INE Survey on Disability, Personal Autonomy and Situations of Dependency carried out in 2020, in Spain there are 1,233,400 deaf and hearing-impaired people aged two or older, with a slightly higher percentage of women (57.25%) than men (42.75%). By 2050, one in ten people in the world will have some kind of hearing disability .
With this information in hand, it is time to also educate children about the reality experienced by deaf people, the value of diversity and the challenges they still face, such as prejudices or the lack of adaptation of content.
These are some of the materials you can use.
Books and films to raise awareness about deafness
- The Bélier Family : This beautiful, award-winning film tells the story of a French farm family whose entire family is deaf, except for 16-year-old Paula, who acts as an interpreter and who will discover her impressive talent for singing by joining the choir. As natural as it is endearing, this cinematic gem is full of humour, rawness and emotion. Ideal for family viewing.
- Benito the Cricket : If you are looking for a story about deafness with recommendations for parents and activities for children to develop their empathy, Benito the Cricket is one of the most recommended options. Its protagonist is an adorable deaf cricket whose friends are insects that have a music group. Although he cannot hear them, he learns to feel the vibrations and dance. But his superpower will also save them from a fearsome hen that has escaped from the farm.
- Rosalía the Spy (Once Foundation Library): a great educational material that will allow the little ones to get to know Rosalía, a very creative and resourceful deaf girl , capable of solving all kinds of puzzles as if she were a real spy. On the website, you can access the complete story in digital version, as well as a bookmark, a cover to color or even the instructions to make a mobile Rosalía Espía puppet.
- Supersorda (Ediciones Maeva): This cool graphic novel tells the story of its author and illustrator Cece Bell, who lost her hearing when she was very young, and her experience with the Phonic Ear, a hearing aid that is as powerful as it is uncomfortable. A story of isolation, overcoming, friendship and inclusion that will make children fall in love with Supersorda, who hears everyone and manages to make a lot of friends.
- A Silent Voice : This fascinating Japanese animated film adapts a popular manga by Yoshitoki Ǒima to address the painful subject of bullying suffered by Shôko Nishimiya, a deaf elementary school student who has just moved to a new school. A lesson in empathy, complex characters and redemption, ideal for children and teenagers to become sensitive and have tools to deal with bullying at school.
Don't forget to read our blog list of the best films and stories to talk about death with children , the best films for children to learn about nature, climate change and the environment , the stories and films to raise awareness against bullying or the best stories to promote empathy and diversity .
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