Attending university or college is not only a great way to learn but also opportunity for new experiences and to give young people more independence. It’s also a wonderful way to meet new people and to experience living away from home.
With the right grades, anyone can go to university or college, but for some, it’s about more than that. Deaf individuals choosing a university or college means making sure the education providers can adequately meet and support their additional needs.
Governing bodies, teachers and other educational staff need to work collaboratively with the Deaf community and understand that providing them with equal access to education is not just a ‘goal’ to work towards, it is their right.
Here are some of the ways education providers can better support Deaf or Hard of Hearing students, to help them get the most from their education.
Deaf students’ right to equal access
Although many Deaf and Hard of Hearing students thrive at university or college, their deafness can have a big impact and often means they have to work harder than hearing students to achieve similar results.
Some of the issues Deaf and Hard of Hearing students may encounter in further or higher education settings include:
- Difficulty hearing or understanding their tutor, lecturer, classmates and other staff
- Problems with sound and acoustics in the learning space
- Speech and language barriers, especially where BSL or subtitles aren’t provided
- Lack of resources, equipment or assistive technology
- Unawareness, misunderstanding or ignorance of Deaf issues among peers and teaching staff
- Social or emotional difficulties
- Difficulty accessing digital content due to lack of transcripts, subtitles and BSL translation.
Under the Equality Act 2010, it’s stipulated that education must be accessible for all students, including disabled students. Colleges and universities are obliged to provide support and make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for any Deaf or Hard of Hearing students to ensure they have equal opportunities to their hearing peers. Some of the things to be aware of include:
Open days
Before a Deaf or Hard of Hearing student starts a course, it’s important to already have measures in place to accommodate their needs. This includes making sure that any events or open days are made accessible, as well as ensuring lecturers and members of staff are aware of the changes they will need to make to ensure classes, lectures and seminars are accessible for all.
Sign Language Interpreters
British Sign Language (BSL) is used by over 151,000 people and over 11 million people in the UK are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Providing BSL interpreters for events, open days, and classes will provide professional level of communication between the deaf student, their peers and teaching staff. Education at this level requires specialist knowledge that must be communicated effectively to allow deaf students to learn equally alongside their peers.
Closed captioning on video/audio content
Most universities and colleges record lectures and seminars either as a full video or just audio. It’s important to provide closed captions to all material to ensure accessibility for all. Alternatively, if there is a BSL interpreter present, the video recording should include the interpreter clearly in the shot as well as the lecturer.
Visibility – allocated seating for Deaf students?
Speaking of getting an interpreter clearly visible in a video, this is also a valid point for in-person events and talks. Be aware of any Deaf students attending an event, lecture or talk and be mindful that if a BSL interpreter has been hired, that the Deaf students can clearly see them from where they’re standing or sitting. Lighting can also be an issue as students need to have clear visibility of the speaker’s lips or sign language interpreter to be able to understand them properly.
Sound and acoustics
Background noise can affect Deaf students’ ability to hear clearly. Some sounds, such as the buzz from electrical equipment, can also interfere with hearing aids and implants. Try to reduce environmental noise as much as possible (close doors and windows) and use a closed hearing loop system or similar assistive technology when available.
What is Deaf Awareness training?
Deaf awareness training will help you and your staff to increase their knowledge and understanding of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and how to communicate more effectively with them. It will also provide staff with tools to create a better learning environment.
The training includes learning the BSL alphabet, basic signs, understanding assistive technology and how it can be used in educational settings to enhance the environment, providing equal opportunities for deaf students to learn.
Our complete Deaf awareness training programme can be delivered as a half-day course or spread over an entire day, with more time spent on specific communication tactics. Every person who completes a course will receive a Sign Solutions Certificate of Attendance, and each course can be specifically tailored to suit the needs of your organisation.
The programme is delivered by our qualified Deaf tutors and is supported by a British Sign Language interpreter. Training can take place at your premises, or remotely via a video platform of your choice. To find out more and book, get in touch today.
