RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.

About this factsheet

This factsheet is part of our education range. It is written for deaf and hard of hearing school pupils who want to find out more about becoming a student in a further education college. We use the term 'deaf' throughout to refer to all types of hearing loss.

Read this factsheet to find out about:

There is also a checklist to help you identify the support you'll need.

Where can I get information about starting college?

If you've got questions about college, try starting here:

  • A member of staff at your school will know which colleges other pupils have gone to and where to find courses you might enjoy. The careers teacher or your form tutor can help you to apply.
  • Your personal adviser from the Connexions Service, who will have been identified at the end of Key Stage 3. They can help you to get information, arrange visits to colleges and help you prepare for interview.
  • A college prospectus or brochure, will tell you a lot about a college and its facilities. You can get a copy direct from the college, from your local library, the school library or careers office.
  • Student Services will be able to give you more information and answer your questions. All colleges have a Student Services department that gives advice to students about funding, benefits, support for disabilities, access and other issues. You can contact them before you apply to the college, to find what help they can offer you.
  • RNID. We produce several other factsheets you or your tutor may find helpful. These are listed at the end of this factsheet.

What are your rights and responsibilities?

Your rights

Being deaf or hard of hearing does not stop you going to college. The Disability Discrimination Act  (DDA) is a law that means a college cannot treat you less favourably or refuse to admit you just because you are deaf.

The educational part of the DDA came into effect in England, Wales and Scotland on 1 September 2002. This means that education providers must not discriminate against you because you are deaf or hard of hearing. They are obliged to provide you with aids and services, including equipment, interpreters and notetakers. Sixth form schools and private education providers have different duties. They should both provide you with aids and services, including equipment.

For information about disability discrimination in Northern Ireland, contact the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (external link, opens new browser window).

Your responsibilities

It's up to you to let the college know about your deafness and what help you need to become a successful student. You are the expert on your own educational needs. The college cannot help you to get the right kind of support if they don't know you're deaf or hard of hearing. The earlier they know what your needs are, the more likely they are to be able to meet them.

The staff on your course may not have had a deaf student in their class before. They may have received some deaf awareness training - but not all deaf students need or want the same kind of support. You could show them the information at the end of this factsheet, so they know where to get advice.

It will help the college if you can give them details about yourself on your application form. Do you wear hearing aids? Do you prefer to use spoken English or British Sign Language? Is a radio aid helpful? Will you need an interpreter at your interview?

Colleges should have a disability co-ordinator whose job is to give support to students who have disabilities that may put them at a disadvantage while studying. The National Union of Students (NUS) also has disability officers who will be able to give you advice (see later).

Teachers of the deaf

After you have told your college you are deaf, you should meet with a ToD who can assess your communication, language and equipment needs. If there is no one at your college who is qualified to assess your support needs, you should either contact your ToD from school, or ask your college to get in touch with your local education authority (LEA) service for deaf students.

A range of professionals can provide support in college, depending on your needs and preferred communication method. These include communication support workers, BSL/English interpreters and notetakers, but they will only help you to access the course content. For help with completing coursework, and going over new language and ideas, you should be assigned a ToD. They may be able to offer you support in individual tutorials or in class.

What equipment can help me at college?

Ask the college for an appointment with a ToD to discuss your support needs. There may be a range of equipment and people to help you that were not available when you were at school. Ask if you can meet other deaf students and find out what they have found to be useful.

You may need equipment to help you with your new studies, particularly when attending lectures and seminars. It's not your responsibility to buy this equipment - the college should provide it. But you should let your tutor or department know what equipment you'll need. Give them as much advance notice as you can (the ToD can help you do this).

You can also contact the RNID Information Line. We can send you our Solutions catalogue, which describes different equipment available to help deaf and hard of hearing learners. We also have an education adviser who can give your college more information about educational equipment. Go to our Shop to see what sort of equipment is available

Remember that any equipment provided by the college will remain college property. This will probably mean that you can't use it outside of college grounds or term times.

Communication support at college

If you need communication support, let the college know as soon as possible before you start the course so that they can employ someone to help you.
For more information, see our leaflet Don't miss out and our factsheet, Working with a communication support worker.

Your support needs

You can use the following checklist in two ways:

  1. Print it our, fill it in, photocopy it and take it along to your entrance interview. The college may not have all the help you need in place, so it's very important that you discuss your needs before you enrol on a course.
  2. Fill it in and take it along to your assessment with your ToD. This way, your college will be able to plan your support in some detail. If there are things you’re not sure about, you can discuss them at your interview or with a teacher from school.

Checklist of my support needs

Name:

To help me work effectively on my course and take part in college life I will need:

 Type of support/equipment  Yes NoSometimes (give example)
 To wear hearing aids   

 To use a radio aid

   
 To use a loop system   
 A communication support worker (CSW)    
 A notetaker   
 An electronic notetaker   
 A lipspeaker   
 A BSL/English interpreter   
 One-to-one tutorials with a teacher of the deaf   
 One-to-one tutorials with a subject specialist   
 Lecturer’s notes before class explaining new vocabulary   
 Written materials in modified English   
 Agreed help in exams (for example, extra time)   
 Other (give examples and go on to a new page if you need to)   

Where can I get further information?

The Connexions Service

Connexions is an advice and guidance service in England for all 13 to 19-year-olds. There are many local Connexions services: look in the phone book for your nearest office or ask your form tutor at school.

Telephone: 080 800 13219
Textphone: 08000 688 336
Website: The Connexions Service website (external link, opens new browser window)

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

The Equality Commission is responsible for combating discrimination and promoting equality in Northern Ireland.

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Equality House, 7-9 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DP
Telephone: 02890 500600
Textphone: 02890 500589
Fax: 02890 248687
Email: information@equalityni.org
Website: Equality Commission for Northern Ireland website (external link, opens new browser window)

National Association for Tertiary Education for Deaf People (NATED)

NATED is an organisation for tutors of deaf people and communication support workers who work in colleges. It promotes access to Further Education for deaf and hard of hearing people.

NATED, Ms Mandy Tucker (Secretary), The Flash Ley Centre, Hawksmoore Road, Stafford, Staffordshire ST17 9DR
Telephone / Textphone: 01785 356 835
Fax: 01785 356 841
Email: enquiries@nated.org

National Union of Students (NUS)

NUS represents the interests of around five million students in further and higher education throughout the UK. NUS provides research, representation, training and expert advice for individual students and students' unions.

2nd floor, Centro 3, Mandela Street, London NW1 ODU
Telephone: 0871 221 8221
Textphone: 020 7380 6649
Fax: 0871 221 8222
Email: nusuk@nus.org.uk
Website: National Union of Students website (external link, opens new browser window)

Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities

Skill produces information for and gives advice to disabled students.

Skill, Chapter House, 18-20 Crucifix Lane, London SE1 3JW
Telephone: 0800 328 5050
Textphone: 0800 068 2422
Fax: 020 7450 0650
Email: info@skill.org.uk
Website: Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities (external link, opens new browser window)

Buying equipment from RNID

RNID sells a range of equipment for deaf people. Visit the RNID Shop to buy some of the equipment online. Alternatively, send off for a copy of our Solutions catalogue.

RNID Products, 1 Haddonbrook Business Centre, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6YX
Telephone: 0870 789 8855
Textphone: 01733 238020
Fax: 0870 789 8822
Email: solutions@rnid.org.uk

Further information from RNID

If you want to find out more about some of the subjects covered in this factsheet you may find these factsheets and leaflets useful: