Students run training courses for leading Devon organisations

Deaf awareness helps both parties

Deaf students from Devon are working with some of the UK’s most prestigious organisations to help their staff develop a deeper understanding of the deaf community.
 
The young people, who attend the Exmouth-based Deaf Academy, are part of deaf awareness sessions for staff at the Met Office, University of Exeter, National Trust, NHS and the police.
 
All of the content is tailored for each organisation’s particular need, from explaining to the police how handcuffing someone who is deaf takes away their ability to communicate, to medical terms used in the NHS’s breast screening clinic.

Mark Stocks, partnership and community manager at the Deaf Academy, said: “Part of our academy’s mission is to help the public to develop a greater understanding of the needs of the deaf community. Sometimes people don’t communicate with a deaf person, as they are afraid of getting that communication wrong, so through these sessions, we aim to reassure people and give them the tools they need to take away that fear.

“It’s been important for us to involve our students, balanced of course with their studies, as another of our aims is to provide our young people with opportunities to be involved and be part of the wider community. The sessions will also help to promote independence and build their confidence.”
 
Hugh, 24, who is a student at the academy said: “I think it’s important to teach deaf awareness to hearing people in order to help them understand Deaf culture and to improve communication between the hearing and deaf communities.”
 
Timothy, 19, who is chair of the academy’s student council said: “This is important as the deaf community needs to feel included in a hearing world. It helps ensure the two communities are more integrated.”
 
Susan Ward-Rice from the Met Office said: “We are continuously striving to be as inclusive as possible with everyone we engage with, whether that be through our recruitment or the content we produce. We are excited to be working with students from the Deaf Academy and our recent deaf awareness session was engaging, educational and informative.
 
The Deaf Academy also offers training to any organisation’s staff when they are considering taking its young deaf adults on for a work placement, to help break down the barriers in the workplace.