Signpost to learning.
An equal chance for D/deaf learners
Prospero House, London – Thursday 17 March 2011
This event is part of an overall project set up by LSIS and funded by the Skills
Funding Agency to improve the access and outcomes for D/deaf learners in
the further education and skills sector.
The creation of this learner voice event has been a central programme within this
project. It has offered a key opportunity for learning and developing a deeper
understanding about the challenges faced by D/deaf learners, the impact on their
equality of opportunity to access their education and the many different solutions that
are appropriate.
The activity to create the event has been a true collaboration of different partners
working together, with the shared vision – to enable the learners’ voices to be heard
and for them to influence those with the power to take action and make a difference
for all D/deaf learners in the future.
An event team was created.
Learners: Izabela, John, Andrew, Ridwan, Dipti, Habib, Ethan and Charlie.
Tutors: Chasta, Brian, Tobin, Jane, Sarah, Louise, Sharon.
LSIS facilitators: Kathryn, Rosie.
Skills Funding Agency support and facilitation:Joanna.
Trained interpreters from different agencies were essential in helping us work
together, as neither of the facilitators knew BSL.
We held workshops in:
October, December, January, February and the dress rehearsal on March 16th!
In the workshops the learners decided:
• What they wanted to say and how!
•
Who they wanted to say it to – who would hear what they had to say and take
action to make a difference?
•
What they wanted to achieve for all D/deaf learners – so thinking strategically.
•
Where did they want to hold the event – what was important about the space?
The messages from this event have come totally from the learners, they echo their
concerns, their thoughts and their wishes. Throughout all the activity to develop the
event it was important that whatever we did had to reflect best practice in creating
accessible and inclusive environments in which those who use either BSL or English
could participate. Learners and tutors were able to advise the LSIS facilitators on
how to do that for the event. Learners were actively involved in advising on the
accessibility of the venue – lighting is an important factor to consider. We were also
tasked by the learners to find a venue that used a flashing alarm in the event of a
fire. Unfortunately, we could not find a suitable venue in London that had a flashing
alarm. We have employed 12 interpreters, two palantypists and an induction loop.
Interpreters will be on hand at all times, including in the workshops and the breaks,
and will be identifiable by their different coloured badges. We have also developed a
‘Top Tips’ for communicating which has been given to all presenters and delegates.
We hope that this will enable all presenters and delegates to be fully understood and
to participate throughout the day.
What happens after the conference?
There are three other parts to this project:
•
•
•
The development of resources on the Excellence Gateway for people working
in the sector, with D/deaf learners,
The development of a regional network for BSL teachers and resources on the
Excellence Gateway to support teaching and learning development,
The creation of a ‘Call for Action’ – the voice of the experts, recommending
how to respond to the learners’ voices and the evidence which shows the
sector needs to do more for D/deaf learners.
All of these resources will be developed and begin to become available at the end of
March. Information from the learner voice conference and the learning from LSIS will
be created into resources for the Excellence Gateway, available to all.
The evidence of what this project has achieved will be gathered and a final report
written for distribution in April 2011.
A case will be presented to continue to fund the resources on the Excellence
Gateway and build on the progress that has been made with all aspects of this
project, to raise deaf awareness and deliver equality of opportunity for D/deaf
learners, as is their right.
Finally
We hope that you enjoy the event. Please use the reflections and action plan sheet
provided in the pack to record any thoughts you have had during the day that you
want to take back with you. Or perhaps you can identify actions that you will put into
practice in your workplace or place of study to support better access to learning for
D/deaf learners.
With best wishes from all of the Events Team.