Deaf or Hard-of-hearing students:
A teacher's role in supporting a deaf or hard-of-hearing student includes (ADCET, 2014):
- Two languages in one picture/video (Auslan and English). Perfect for use in the classroom
- Re-arrange student seating in the classroom so hard-of-hearing student is close to the front
- Use of wireless assistive listening devices in the classroom
- Try to limit the background noise when students are working and when you are addressing your students
- Make sure when you speak, you are facing the class rather than the whiteboard or with your head in a book so the hard-of-hearing student can read your lips and watch your gestures
- Speaking slower and using pauses when speaking can really assist hard-of-hearing students with their learning. Along with using wait time after asking questions so students using an interpreter can have time to have input
- Make sure if you are writing on a whiteboard or using notes projected on a screen that these notes are available in a hand out version for your hard-of-hearing student as taking notes can be quite difficult for a hard-of-hearing or deaf student
- If showing films or YouTube clips in the classroom try to use ones that are captioned where possible
- Make sure you don't make your students over-anxious, let them know it's ok to make mistakes. Allow the hard-of-hearing or deaf student extra time to complete tasks where possible and give them one on one time to ask additional questions if needed