Here are profiles of some of our D/deaf staff and students.
Supporting students with disabilities in the area of study skills and promoting deaf awareness within the University.
I became a trainee Youth Worker in 1990 and passed the Bessey and Community Youth Work Course one year later, accredited at the time by the Welsh Joint Education Committee.
Between 2000 and 2003, I attended the University of Wales College Newport studying BA Hons Youth and Community Studies. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a mature student, and it was something I never thought about going to University considering that during my formative years through lack of communication support in my High School I had very little to show academically.
During the period of 2006 – 2008 I studied the Post Graduate Certificate of Education (Post Compulsory Education and Training), which was a compulsory qualification for working as a full time Youth Worker and also a requirement for teaching in Further Education as a Sign Language Teacher.
It was at this time that I was asked if I would be interested in providing Study Skills support to Deaf students who were studying Post Graduate Certificate of Education (Post Compulsory Education and Training). I took this opportunity and have never looked back. It is satisfying sharing the students’ journey and their eventual graduation.
I have been on television a few times notably BBC See Hear, BBC Wales and ITV Wales news, one featuring my winning the BT Young Deaf Achievers Award 1995 and most recently championing the accessibility efforts to the Deaf Community of Sherman 5. In the past articles have been written about me in the British Deaf News about my background as Trustee of the British Deaf Association.
I have appeared in the journal of the Community and Youth Workers Union section of Unite having written some articles about inclusion of deaf young people and deaf youth workers to highlight both needed process and good practice.