This section of the web site provides strategies for dealing with the variety of challenges you may face in the communications area when deaf and hard-of-hearing students are in your course.

Communication is fundamental to the academic success of all students but it is often taken for granted. In environments where deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students study and attend classes together the assumption that communication “just happens” is especially detrimental. While having an interpreter or captionist in the classroom enhances access, it does not address all aspects of accessibility. A truly accessible classroom environment requires thought, planning, conscious effort and teamwork.

Some of the strategies focus on mindset and attitude while others are more behavior and action oriented.

Perhaps the real key to successful communication with any group is to be positive, flexible, and open to the experience, and to respect and appreciate personal differences.

Finding Material

We’ve organized the material on this web site into short, readable sections with names like “Pace,” “Labeling/References,” and “Vocabulary.” As you seek information about challenges you face centering on deaf or hard-of-hearing students look for words in the four columns above that match your particular situation.

Think of the topics above like a large collection of suggestions that can help you in the teaching/learning process with your deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Under each topic you’ll find material organized into challenges and accompanying strategies. You’ll also find links to related topics in the collection, as well as occasional video segments that help to clarify the issue.

In addition there are occasional handouts. These are provided for your use, and are provided in a format that will allow you to open those files, modify them as needed, and they distribute them to your students. For example there is a handout with communication interaction rules for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students when working together in groups.

Feedback

We’re always interested in knowing what you think. If you don’t find a topic that relates to the issue you face, or if the material is not helpful (or even if it is), please click the “Contact Us” link at the bottom of the page and send us email. We’ll help if we can.