ONE TO ONE COMMUNICATION WITH DEAF/HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS

Many hearing students benefit when speakers face them; speak clearly without rushing and use gestures and other visual aids to enhance the message. For Deaf/Hard of Hearing (HOH) students, these things are essential. The important thing is to be a visual communicator.

WHEN SPEAKING:

• Converse in a quiet place with few distractions, when possible.


• Maintain eye contact with the student. If you have to turn away, stop speaking until eye contact is reestablished.


• Speak clearly, but do not speak rapidly or exaggerate mouth movements. Do not demonstrate and talk at the same time.


• Be sure nothing is obstructing the student’s view of your face (e.g., standing in front of a sunny window or in the dark when using a projection screen).


• If the student does not understand, repeat your message. If the student still does not understand, rephrase your message.


• Writing notes and keyboarding back and forth are acceptable ways of communicating.


• Speak directly to the student not the interpreter or captioner, when one is present.


• Use body language, facial expressions, and gestures.

To contact a Deaf/Hard of Hearing student, use:

E-mail

Instant messaging

Cell phone text messaging

Relay North Dakota – call 711 or 1-800-366-6888

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Pepnet at http://199.17.224.20/cover.htm, offers a free course entitled “Orientation to Serving College Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing." The course takes approximately one hour to do and includes a Certificate of Completion.