Deaf Support in Third Level Project Summer School 2009
Posted on: 17 September 2009
The Deaf Support in Third Level Project Summer School 2009 fourth annual Deaf Support in Third Level Project (DS3) Summer School was hosted at Trinity College Dublin on Thursday September 17th. Each year, this event brings together first year Deaf and hard of hearing students from all Irish third level institutions about to start their studies for a ‘sample’ day of college life.
The aim of the summer school is to introduce, through lectures and information sessions, the range of academic supports including Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreters, note-takers, ‘speedtext’, assistive listening devices, exam accommodations, and additional academic support options. Presentations are given by Deaf and hard of hearing students who have themselves been through third level education and have experienced what it is like to make the transition from second to third level.
“Many students arrive in third level without any experience of the various services available to them in lectures and exams and valuable first weeks of classes can be lost while these options are fine-tuned to best support the student”, stated the DS3 Project Officer and staff member in Trinity College’s Disability Service, Emma Clarke. “The DS3 summer school aims to assist Deaf and hard of hearing students with this transition and it is also a great opportunity for new students to meet peers and based on previous years they act as a primary support whilst at college,” added Emma who is also a Deaf graduate of TCD.
Student Testimonials from those who attended past DS3 Summer Schools:
“In school there were very low expectations of me, one teacher told me I would not get into Trinity College as the standard was too high. But, I did get in. In first year, I was very excited. But it was a big shock. The deaf school was small and college was a big “hearing” world. Sometimes I was very lonely. I struggled with the academics and trying to fit into college life. I didn’t know how to use the support services. DS3 was set up when I was in my final year. I got involved in DS3 as a role model and continue to be involved. I think if DS3 had been there when I started college there would have been higher expectations of me and I would have known how to use the support services”.
Lillian Quigley, TCD Graduate. Lillian is currently working as a Fund Accountant in Bank of Ireland.
“During the summer school, I met others who had been to college before and felt if they could do it, I could do it. I made some great friends and it gave me the confidence to go to college. If there was no DS3 I don’t think I would have coped as well as I did, and I think I would have dropped out of college.”
Ruth McCann, UCD Graduate. Ruth is currently reading for a Masters in London.
The Deaf Support in Third Level Project is a national initiative run by TCD which aims to increase the numbers and retention of Deaf and hard of hearing students in third level education in Ireland. The project was established in 2005 originally funded by the HEA Strategic Initiatives fund and continues to be funded by Trinity College Dublin.
DS3 in conjunction with the Irish Deaf Youth Association (IDYA) also hosted a “Get Thinking” Workshop for 5th and 6th year students on September 16th, to get them thinking about going to college. Over 20 students from St Josephs and St Mary’s Schools for the Deaf and Deaf students from mainstream schools around the country attended the workshop.