Carole Smart: Why I love my job as a Teacher of the Deaf

When I first met my husband he used to say “if he cut me open I would bleed teacher”.

In 1994 after my degree I qualified to teach infants. After a short while I was lucky enough to work in a mainstream school which had a unit for deaf children. This was the first time I had seen anyone use BSL. Coincidentally I also had a child in my class with deaf parents.

I became enthralled in learning the beautiful language and took myself off to evening classes and passed level 1 and 2. I then met an inspirational teacher of the Deaf who persuaded me to go back to university and get an additional qualification as a teacher of the deaf.

Throughout my 18 year career as a TOD there has rarely been a dull day. I’ve worked in a special school, mainstream school with a unit and in a peri service.

I have so many varied memories of my career. It is truly a privilege to work in homes with families who have all welcomed me. Being part of a child’s life for their first 3 years at home is just mind-blowing. To hear a profoundly deaf child speak their first word is a memory I will never lose. Seeing a child use their first sign, or speak their first word and knowing this will unlock the door to communication is worthy of a tear or two.

I have many funny memories – a school asking me to collect a child on my caseload who had been violently sick and the child’s mum wasn’t answering her phone. The child who changed the settings on his radio aid to Spanish – fortunately I have just enough basic Spanish to navigate back through the menu and select English. I was once asked by a group of hearing 10 year olds if it would hurt when I gave them their flu injection – I was retubing a mould at the time! I have shared ups and downs, laughs (and a few tears) with families.

Recently I have worked with two Deaf families from whom I have learnt so much about BSL and also had my interest in Deaf culture reignited.

A day in my life as a TOD can include – checking, troubleshooting and replacing hearing aids, radio aids, cochlear implants. We carry out specific language assessments – the pleasure I see on parents faces when I tell them their deaf child is performing at above age related expectations for a hearing child is immeasurable.

We give training to schools. It’s lovely to hear comments such as “oh, now I understand why x doesn’t like the noisy dining room”. We attend annual reviews and team around the family meetings as well as audiological appointments. We support children to be fully integrated into school life and to become independent in caring for and testing the equipment they use.

Recently at a gathering I bumped into students I had taught 10 years ago. I was delighted when they all remembered me and had some positive memories of the times we had spent together. Realising that some of them are now approaching 30 reminded me that I too am getting older! I still see them as in their teens and myself as much younger than I am.

Looking back over my career makes me want to cram in as much as possible to my remaining years. I hope that when I retire as a TOD I will be able to hand over to someone as enthusiastic and interested as I was when I joined the profession.

Would I change anything? Absolutely not. I could not imagine a more fulfilling job. I don’t need to name names of the people I have referred to who have supported me along the way – you know who you are 😉

Carole’s professional ambitions are to see all deaf children integrated and supported in an educational setting that suits their needs. She enjoys walking, cross stitch, spending time with family and friends and reading. She was born and brought up in Cumbria, attended university in Scarborough (her favourite place on earth) and has lived on the outskirts of Derby for 11 years.