The use of NZSL as a valid medium of instruction has not always been accepted by the government, the Association of Teachers of the Deaf, nor by many parents. However, in light of much research into its validity as a language and much advocacy by deaf adults, parents of deaf children (both hearing and deaf) and educationalists, NZSL has since become — in tandem with English — part of the bilingual/bicultural approach used in public schools (including Kelston Deaf Education Centre and Van Asch Deaf Education Centre) since 1994. Victoria University of Wellington has courses in New Zealand Sign Language, although it has yet to develop a major programme for it. AUT teaches a Bachelor course for NZSL interpreting. Variants Differences in lexicon in New Zealand Sign Language have largely developed through the student communities surrounding five schools for the deaf in New Zealand: Van Asch Deaf Education Centre (formerly Sumner School for the Deaf), opened 1880 (Christchurch) St Dominic's School for the Deaf, opened 1944 in Wellington, moved to Feilding in 1953 Titirangi School for the Deaf, opened 1942 and closed in the end of 1959 (when the classes opened at Kelston, Titirangi became a boarding house) Mt Wellington School for the Deaf opened (due to overflow at Titirangi) 1952 and closed in the end of 1959 - when the classes opened at Kelston, Mt Wellington became boarding house. Kelston School for the Deaf, opened 1958 (Auckland) and Kelston School for the Deaf Children was renamed in 1991 to Kelston Deaf Education Centre. See also Sign Language Interpreters Association of New Zealand References External links The Online Dictionary of NZ Sign Language SignDNA: Sign Language Deaf National Archive New Zealand History of Van Asch School Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand (formerly Deaf Association of New Zealand) National Foundation for Deaf & Hard of Hearing New Zealand Sign Language Teacher's Association Auckland Deaf Society New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006 Sign Language Interpreters Association of New Zealand Examples of videos in New Zealand Sign Language, on the website of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission Deaf Studies at Victoria University of Wellington NZSL-English Interpreting at AUT BANZSL Sign Language family Deaf culture in New Zealand Languages of New Zealand