UCL’s Summer School for deaf & hard of hearing (year 11 & 12) students

Background

Deaf students are hugely under-presented in Higher Education (HE), ‘Discover UCL Summer School for D/deaf and hard of hearing (year 11 and 12) students’, a residential event, unique to UCL, aims to redress balance by equipping deaf students for university life. Approximately 15 students have attended each year, 62 in total since 2014.

The ‘Discover UCL…’ team deliver a programme to support deaf students’ preparation for university, developing confidence and skills to flourish in HE. This unique event has deafness at its core, every aspect is designed to benefit deaf students. It is also a commitment in UCL’s Access and Participation Plan (APP).

Note: APPs are contracts with the Office for Students, that outline how an institution will increase admission and retention of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Programme

The summer school  is innovative and creative, drawing together groups of (internal/external) people who would never ordinarily work together, or previously encountered deaf people.

The programme (https://youtu.be/ruifNflabkk) includes practical information (e.g. UCAS statements), object-based learning sessions using UCL’s museum collections and PhD student talks on varied subjects. Deaf role model and current/former UCL deaf student talks convey career choices and barriers through personal stories to help students plan for university and careers. Disability services support sessions to provide practical guidance, explain access rights under the Equality Act 2010, and reassure students that UCL (and other universities) can support their access needs, and are legally obliged to do so. Academic ‘taster’ sessions are tailored to the interests of the cohort. To instil confidence and self-advocacy skills, students win prizes for requesting adjustments like asking interpreters to rephrase, reminding a speaker to use a radio aid transmitter. (more…)