HEI Perspective on Deaf Student Support

Laura DoeUniversity of Central

Lancashire

My background:

Further Education – various support roles

Higher Education - UCLan Note-taker Language Tutor Project Officer in Deaf Studies Part-time Lecturer (in Deaf Studies)

Scenario:Scenario:Arrive at classroom to find….

Large class (40+ students) Four deaf students Room – long and narrow No windows! Interpreter and note-taker Also, student in wheelchair

Issues I have encountered:

Did not know how many deaf students prior to lecture

No time to prep interpreters

Room not appropriate

More issues:

Interpreter / note-taker NOT available

Note-taker not always needed?

Practicalities of group work

Resources

Assessments: We use a range of assessments

eg. Essays, Portfolios, Presentations, Videos

Language Support UCLan = hand in 2 copies Mark final corrected version (sticker)

Marking guidelines

Finally… Interpreters, Note-takers & equipment

can improve access for deaf students…

But still does not mean that deaf students have equal access.

Assessment of Need is not a universal remedy…It provides guidelines, but reality is sometimes very different.