Frances Lewin: Help me carry out research into support for deaf students

Following Hamza Shaikh’s blog yesterday about the challenges he faced at university, I want to tell you about some research we are doing to gather evidence to use in campaigns to improve support for deaf students.

Hamza described the ‘dwindling and sub-standard’ support he received since the introduction of the IR35. Many students are also facing problems because of changes to the Disabled Students’Allowance.

Since these changes were announced in April 2016, some deaf students have said the funding is affecting the interpreting support they receive.

Students tell me their support was not in place when they started their course and other students say the support doesn’t match their needs.

Some students tell me they are happy with the support they receive which is great. It’s important however that all students get the support they need.

I’m doing a piece of research at University College London with Prof Chloe Marshall and Dr Robert Adam and we need deaf students to tell us what is and isn’t working.

I have created a survey for all deaf and hard of hearing students studying at university. The survey asks about what happened before you started your course, what support was in place when you started university and asks if you are happy with the interpreting support. The survey takes about 10 – 15 mins to complete and there is a BSL translation of all the information and questions.

Here’s the link to the survey for deaf and hard of hearing students:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ForUniStudents

Please complete the survey if you are:

• A deaf or hard of hearing student

• You use a CSW AND / OR BSL/English Interpreter

• You are studying a BA or BSc course

• You are studying full-time at university

• Your course started in Sept / Oct 2016 OR Sept / Oct 2017

The survey is part of a larger research project looking at interpreting support in higher education. One of the aims of the project is to set-up a website for deaf students with the information you need about the DSA application and assessment, what support is available and how to complain if you’re not happy with your support.

There is also a survey for Communication Support Workers and BSL/English Interpreters to find out about their experience of working in university, or to find out why they don’t interpret in universities.

Here’s the link for the CSW & interpreter survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CSWsSLIs

If you have any questions, please email me f.lewin@ucl.ac.uk

We really need you to share your experiences so we can challenge and improve the support you receive at university.

Thank you!

Frances Lewin qualified as a BSL/English Interpreter in 2001 and is currently a PhD research student at UCL Institute of Education. Her research is looking at interpreting in the university classroom.