Deaf Education in Taiwan: History, Policies, Practices, and Outcomes

Abstract

This chapter traces the Chinese/Japanese/native historical roots of Taiwan’s deaf education and presents demographics of deaf school-age children and adults. We then examine the medical/audiological and social factors affecting deaf students’ learning, including teachers’ use of pedagogical tools, curriculum, instructional strategies, and educational outcomes. Finally, we recommend a service and research agenda. We conclude that Taiwan has many multicultural and multilingual resources and services that could be tapped to serve deaf children and their families, particularly in the area of developing more accessible language-learning environments at home and at school.