Ashton Bults and Stewart Carter.
Camera IconAshton Bults and Stewart Carter. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson www.communitypix.com.au d481467

Sign of the times: Halls Head PS student gets ahead in Auslan thanks to his Teacher of the Deaf

Victoria RificiMandurah Coastal Times

HALLS Head Primary School student Ashton Bults will continue to improve his understanding of Auslan – Australian sign language – thanks to his visiting Teacher of the Deaf Stewart Carter.

South Yunderup resident Mr Carter has supported 11-year-old Ashton’s acquisition with sign language for the past 18 months.

“He had quite a bit of experience with Auslan before I met him,” Mr Carter said.

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The Year 6 student grew up with his family in NSW; he was fitted with hearing aids at six-weeks-old.

However, Ashton was wrongly diagnosed at birth and was not fitted with implants until he was four-years-old.

He then started to learn Auslan at a deaf school in NSW.

Since moving to Mandurah with his family, Ashton has continued to improve his use and understanding of Auslan.

“We get together twice a week, play games and focus on Australian curriculum subjects like English and maths, but I teach by sign language instead,” Mr Carter said.

Mr Carter, who has been teaching the deaf for 12 years, said Ashton would have the choice to use his voice or Auslan when communicating.

“I also provide support to the school, including showing teachers how to teach deaf students and showing students ways of communicating with Ashton via Auslan,” he said.

Mr Carter said Ashton would pick up Auslan quite quickly.

“He’s become quite good at it which is great,” he said.

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