GUIDING SUCCESS: WORKING WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING Presented by Jason Anderson & Jen Hayes

JASON ANDERSON DEAF & HARD-OF-HEARING ADVISOR Why am I here?

JEN HAYES, BS, NIC

How many of you have worked with a student who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing in the past? How many of you have no experience with Deaf or Hard of Hearing students?

WHY IS THIS WORKSHOP IMPORTANT? Understand D/HH student Demographic Provide tools for D/HH interaction Understand importance of cross-campus collaboration

 Acceptable Terminology  Hard of Hearing  Deaf/deaf  Late deafened  Terminology to Avoid  Hearing Impaired  Deaf & Dumb  Deaf-Mute

D/HH STUDENT DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS  Language Preferences  Hearing aids/ALD  Cochlear Implant  Profoundly Deaf  Hearing loss  Deaf +

D/HH STUDENT IDENTITY  Culturally Deaf (Deaf)  Not culturally Deaf (deaf)  Ethnic/Racial Diversity  Embarrassed about hearing loss  Unsure of identity

D/HH STUDENT EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES (PRIOR TO COLLEGE)  Mainstream Public School  Deaf Residential School  Mixed Educational Experiences  Common Educational Struggles  English  Lack of Support  Lack of opportunity for Incidental Learning

TRANSITION TO COLLEGE  What are some common obstacles you think deaf and hard of hearing students experience in their transition to college?  Accessibility  Meeting with Advisors  Using campus resources wisely  Choosing a Major  Selecting a Career  Developing as a Professional  Developing as an Individual

ACCESSING ADVISING Current Student Experience Possible Solutions  Appointment Scheduling  Interpreter Requests  Walk in VS Pre-schedule  Self-Advocacy Experience  Sensitive to availability of interpreter  Ask all students- do you require an accommodation?  Include on forms  Staff hires the interpreter

D/HH INTERACTIONS Current Student Experience Possible Solutions  Staff are inexperienced with service providers  Unfamiliar with d/hh interactions  Talking Loud  Over- enunciating  Assumption about lip reading  Assumption about ASL  Learn how to work with service providers  Pen & Paper  Texting  Typing in a Word Document  Ask all students for their communication preferences  Work closely with ARC

ACCESSING CAMPUS RESOURCES Current Student ExperiencePossible Solutions  Referral to D/HH Advisor  Be explicit with explanations and don’t make assumptions  Encourage students to get involved, explain why  Collaborate with staff who interface with D/HH students  Inadequate exposure to information  Lack of incidental learning  Rely on peers for information

CHOOSING A MAJOR & CAREER Current Student Experience Possible Solutions  Encourage students to DREAM BIG  If students want to pursue a “typical major” ask the student to reflect on :  What are the job prospects for you in that field?  How will you set yourself apart from other D/HH applicants?  Think about why an employer should choose YOU- plan for it.  D/HH students typically choose:  Deaf Education  ASL Studies  Graphic Design  Art & Design programs  Majors that lead to a job with minimal hearing community interaction

DEVELOP AS AN INDIVIDUAL Current Student ExperiencePossible Solutions  Encourage students to engage in campus activities and organizations  Cross-campus collaboration  Reach out to the D/HH students  Empower the students to advocate for themselves  Strong D/HH connections  Lack of Staff connections outside of D/HH advisor  Depend on D/HH Advisor to advocate on their behalf

DEVELOP AS PROFESSIONAL Current Student ExperiencePossible Solutions  College ≠ Job  Develop a plan with the student  Career focused  Emphasize practical experience  Refer to CDC  Review career preparation at each advising session  COLLE GE = JOB  Students are not always career focused  Don’t understand long-term effects of decisions made in college  Networking is limited

COLLABORATIVE SERVICE MODEL TO IMPROVE D/HH STUDENT EXPERIENCE Examples  Cross-department collaboration  Cross-organization collaboration  Community collaboration Outcomes for D/HH Students  Increased sense of connection to UWM  Increases retention  Development of networking opportunities  Improves eventual employment outcomes

RESOURCES  DVR-  Student Accessibility Center- www4.uwm.edu/sacwww4.uwm.edu/sac  Interpreter Training program-  American Sign Language Studies Program-  Pepnet-  Social Security Administration-  ADA-  Center for Career Development- www4.uwm.edu/cdc/www4.uwm.edu/cdc/  Center for Community-Based Learning, Leadership, and Research- www4.uwm.edu/community/ www4.uwm.edu/community/  DSSHE-

CONTACT INFORMATION  Jason Anderson    Jen Hayes   QUESTIONS?