Faculty and Staff Reference Guide to
Serving Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Students

This resource guide is designed to assist Lenoir-Rhyne College faculty and staff in working with deaf or hard-of-hearing (d/hh) students. To provide classroom accommodations, Support Services for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students (SSDHHS) will send you a letter indicating eligibility and recommendations for accommodations appropriate for the individual d/hh student. This department requires a signed authorization from the student in order for you and the Director, Mrs. Shawn Frank, to discuss a student’s academic performance.

These accommodations can be arranged as indicated below.

· Interpreting services-you can request an interpreter by contacting the department or on-line from the department’s home page at this address:

      http://www.lrc.edu/deaf/Interpreting_Request.htm

· Note taking services-Two note takers are needed in each class where there is a deaf/hard-of-hearing student.  Volunteer note takers are requested for other classes. For more information contact Becky Brinkley brinkleyb@lrc.edu.

· Videos-When requesting equipment to show videos to your classes, keep in mind that most are closed captioned.  Some classrooms are already equipped to decode the text, please contact Kevin Karrs for these locations.  His extension is 7240 or Karrs@lrc.edu  The video cover does not necessarily indicate if it is captioned.  Recordings from television will automatically record the closed captioned text and can also be decoded.  Providing a script or notes is also very useful to the student or interpreter.

· Contacting Students-To contact a deaf/hard-of-hearing student you can use a TTY, Relay or E-mail. For Relay, dial 1-877-735-8200, an operator will ask for the number you wish to call. Once connected, the operator will type your message on a TTY to the student. The student will type a message to the operator who then reads the message to you. For further information you may contact a D/HHS staff member.

· Organizations-there are 2 organizations on campus related to deaf awareness and sign language.

SIGN TROUPE: The Lenoir-Rhyne College Sign Troupe is an organization of deaf/hard-of-hearing and hearing students, which performs songs in sign language. A repertoire of songs is performed at various on-campus and off-campus functions. (e.g. schools, alumni meetings, churches, nursing homes, etc.). Membership is open to all interested individuals. Contact Shawn Frank at  franks@lrc.edu

H.A.N.D.S. (Hearing and Deaf Signers):The mission of H.A.N.D.S. is to promote social interaction between deaf/hard-of-hearing and hearing students and to encourage deaf awareness on and off campus. Membership in H.A.N.D.S. is open to all interested individuals. Contact Trula Baker bakertl@lrc.edu

· Office Location and Contact Information:

The Office of Support Services for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students is located on Second Floor in Cromer Center; our L-RC Box # is 7221, our E-mail is DHHServices@lrc.edu

The interpreters’ code of ethics can be accessed via RID on our home page listed under Student Affairs.

Classroom Strategies:

· Address the deaf/hard-of-hearing student directly.

· Discuss the progress of a student ONLY with the Director, provided the student has signed a release.

· Keep in mind that it is inappropriate for the interpreter to change roles from interpreter to participant. Involving the interpreter can be distracting to both the interpreter and members of your class.

· D/hh students should be held to the same standards as other students.

· Keep in mind that not all d/hh students rely on assistive listening devices (ALDs) or lip reading for effective communication, some use a combination of modes.

· Speak clearly, do not exaggerate lip movements or volume.

· Recognize one speaker at a time and point out the speaker so everyone can participate.

· Use visual aids as much as possible (power point, transparencies, blackboard, handouts, etc.)

· Please provide the interpreter with all handouts. Include the interpreter on distribution lists so that s/he will be aware of videos, cancellation, relocations, guest speakers, field trips, tests, etc.

 

INFORMATIONAL WEB SITES
Department of Support Services for
Deaf/Hard-of Hearing Students
LENOIR-RHYNE COLLEGE