Are deaf students always prepared for life after school?
• Personal adjustment • Other support needs • Prior experience • Coping strategies Notes: I’d like to look now at whether deaf students are in fact prepared for life at College. The answer is, as I’m sure you may have guessed, that some students are prepared and some are not. So what does it mean to be prepared for College? College is a predominantly hearing environment with pockets of staff that are deaf aware. It is important to realise that deaf peers and support staff may be located in a different buildings around the campus. Life is easier at College for students who have PERSONALLY ADJUSTED to their situation and their needs able to ask for what they need and are willing to receive support. Students who feel that their hearing loss is something to hide or to be glossed over, or as something to be ashamed or embarrassed about can have a tough time as support may draw attention to the hearing loss and is therefore avoided. Students AND Colleges have a responsibility to ensure that
