Deaf students may use a range of different communication services to support their studies. You may find yourself working alongside a number of people who provide this support.

Communication support workers

Communication support workers (CSWs) support deaf people, generally in an educational setting. They provide help with communication between deaf students and their tutor and other students on the course. The support they offer depends on the individual student's needs. CSWs may take notes, interpret or communicate in British Sign Language (BSL), Sign Supported English (SSE) or by lipspeaking. For more information, see RNID's factsheet Working with a communication support worker.

BSL/English interpreters

Deaf people whose first or preferred language is British Sign Language (BSL) use BSL/English interpreters. A BSL/English interpreter can make it easier for a deaf sign language user and a hearing person to communicate with each other. An interpreter will interpret from one language to another. In the UK, this will usually be from BSL to spoken or written English, or vice-versa. For more information, see RNID's factsheet Working with a BSL/English interpreter.

Electronic notetakers

Electronic notetakers use a computer to type a summary of what is being said. This information appears on a screen for the deaf student to read. Students can ask for a transcript to help them with their studies.

An electronic notetaker can be particularly good for a student as the system is interactive, so the student can type questions for the notetaker to ask, or add his or her own notes to the onscreen transcript.

Speech-to-text reporting (see below) is preferable if students would like a word-for-word transcript of everything said. For more information, see RNID’s factsheet Working with an electronic notetaker.

Notetakers

Notetakers are trained to take accurate and clear notes for deaf people. They do this in handwritten English or on a laptop computer. If a deaf student is watching a sign language interpreter or lipspeaker, it is impossible to take notes at the same time. In these situations, having a notetaker means that the student does not miss out on anything. For more information, see RNID's factsheet Working with a notetaker.

Speech-to-text reporters

A speech-to-text (STT) reporter uses a special keyboard to type every word that is said. The keyboard is designed to let the reporter type words phonetically, and so keep up with the speed of spoken English. Everything that is typed appears on a laptop computer screen. It can also be shown on a larger screen, so that more than one person can read it. STT reporters are also called palantypists or stenographers. For more information, see RNID's factsheet Working with a speech-to-text reporter.

Lipspeakers

Lipspeakers repeat a speaker's message to lipreaders accurately, without using their voice. They clearly produce the shape of the words, the flow, rhythm and phrasing of natural speech and repeat the stress used by the speaker. Lipspeakers also use facial expressions, natural gestures and fingerspelling if requested, to help the lipreader to understand. You may find our leaflet Watch this face useful.