The Early Care and Education of Deaf Children in Ghana Developing local and global understandings of early support

Ruth Swanwick, Professor of Deaf Education, School of Education, University of Leeds,Daniel Fobi, Lecturer of Deaf Education, Department of Special Education, University of Education, Winneba,Yaw Offei, Associate professor of Audiology and Special Education, Department of Special Education, University of Education, Winneba,Alexander Oppong, Senior lecturer of Deaf Education and Special Education, Department of Special Education, University of Education, Winneba

Ruth Swanwick is Professor of deaf education at the University of Leeds in the School of Education. Ruth's research activities encompass childhood deafness, language and learning, inclusive and bilingual education, and teacher development. She is currently developing the impact activities that are the outcome of collaborative UK-Ghana project that investigated the early education for young deaf children and their caregivers in Ghana.


Daniel Fobi is a lecturer in deaf education and inclusive education, a sign language interpreter, and graduate programmes coordinator at the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. He is also a project officer and a visiting research fellow at the School of Education, University of Leeds. Dani is currently working to support scholarship in sub-Saharan Africa and building the academic and research capacity of researchers of the region by providing mentorship and professional development training to teachers.


Yaw Nyadu Offei is an Associate Professor in Audiology and Special Education at the University of Education, Winneba. Ghana. He has a Master of Philosophy degree in Special Education from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, a Master of Science in Audiological Sciences at University College London and, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Audiology from the Faculty of Education, University of Cologne in Germany.


Alexander M. Oppong is a professional teacher of the deaf and senior lecturer in the Department of Special Education, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. He specialises in training graduate and undergraduate teachers of the deaf. Alex is currently one of the co-investigators on the British Academy Global Challenges Research Funded project that seeks to examine early education for young deaf children and their caregivers in Ghana.

1. Introduction: The writing context, vision, and objectives, Ruth Swanwick, Daniel Fobi, Yaw Nyadu Offei, Alexander Mills Oppong, Joyce Fobi, Obed Appau, Derrick Asomaning, Richard Doku, Linda Amanvida Gibbah2. Childhood deafness in sub-saharan Africa, Daniel Fobi, Derrick Asomaning3. African childhoods, Alexander Mills Oppong, Obed Appau4. The early care and education of deaf childhren in Ghana, Yaw Nyadu Offei, Linda Amanvida Gibbah5. Researching childhood deafness and early support: ethical and methodological implications, Ruth Swanwick, Joyce Fobi6. The experiences of caregivers of deaf children, Ruth Swanwick, Obed Appau7. The multilingual context of ECCE for deaf children and their families in Ghana, Ruth Swanwick, Joyce Fobi8. The role of professionals, Yaw Nyadu Offei, Linda Amanvida Gibbah9. Deaf adult participation and leadership in ECCE, Daniel Fobi,Derrick Asomaning, Richard Doku10. Early childhood care and education of deaf children: the development of knowledge, theory and practice, Ruth Swanwick, Daniel Fobi