Coleg Gwent tutor learns sign language to support deaf student
2 May 2023
This week, it’s Deaf Awareness Week, an opportunity to promote greater awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by deaf people.
At Coleg Gwent, there is a sense of belonging for deaf individuals and each day we work hard to try to create a more diverse and inclusive learning environment for everyone.
The college has taken significant steps to support deaf learners through a dedicated team of additional learning professionals who provide individualised support services to students and staff who are deaf or hard of hearing. These services include ASA (Additional Support Assistants) support, the provision of communication support workers and deaf awareness training for staff members. Additionally, the college has made efforts to raise awareness about deaf culture and language which is led by members of the college’s Deaf Club.
Meet Kristi
Kristi Jones is a tutor specialising inBeauty Therapy, who has been at the college for five years. In September 2022, Hannah decided to return to college as a mature student and enrolled onto Kristi’s part-time Level 3 Nail Technology course, at Coleg Gwent’s Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone. Hannah was born deaf and uses BSL to communicate with her friends, family.
Kristi knew how important it was to make sure that Hannah had equal access to the course content and could communicate with her effectively and so decided to learn BSL.
“I was fully aware of the additional support that Hannah needed before she joined the course, as I’d had in-depth conversations with her mum about her hearing loss and the support that we could offer her at the college. We decided that the best course of action would be to provide Hannah with a Communication Support Worker (CSW) who would support her during class by translating the lesson content into BSL.
“I was totally comfortable with the support that we were able to provide Hannah to make sure that she would succeed on the course, but I wanted to make sure she was fully involved in the learning experience. When you have a learner with additional needs, you should be able to adapt your teaching. I started by asking Hannah and her CSW, Joa to teach me some phrases and words that would help her during her time in class, and it’s just grown from there.”
“I’ve continued to develop me skills and I can see the positive impact it’s having on Hannah; she has become more engaged in class and is more comfortable asking questions, meaning that she is included in classroom discussions.
“I’ve now built up a bank of useful terms and phrases and I feel like Hannah is really supported. She has even told me that I’m a good communicator.
“I’m now in the process of transitioning Hannah to help her get the support she needs once she progresses onto our Theatrical Special Effects, Hair, and Media Make-Up Level 3course. I can’t wait to see what she will achieve.”
Meet Hannah
Hannah said:
“I was born deaf, so it’s all I’ve known. I was bought up the deaf way with hearing aids and learning BSL. I’ve recently had a cochlear implant fitted, which is helping with general sounds.”
“I thought that returning to college as a mature learner would be challenging, but working with Joa, I’ve been really supported. Now that Kristi has also learned sign language, I can understand the course content much more clearly, and I’m able to get involved with group work, which has been great for my progress. I’m hoping to progress to Level 3 Theatrical Special Effects, Hair, and Media Make-Up at Coleg Gwent’s Crosskeys campus, and in the future, I’d like to teach make-up.
“If there are any other deaf people who may be struggling, or wondering if college is right for them, I’d encourage them to go for it. Get involved, keep positive, and if I can do it, then anyone can!”
The college has taken significant steps to support deaf learners through a dedicated team of additional learning professionals who provide individualised support services to students and staff who are deaf or hard of hearing. These services include ASA (Additional Support Assistants) support, the provision of communication support workers and deaf awareness training for staff members. Additionally, the college has made efforts to raise awareness about deaf culture and language which is led by members of the college’s Deaf Club.
