You will need to discuss your placement requirements with your Faculty Placement Coordinator as soon as you accept an offer of a place in the course. Deakin can provide Auslan interpreters and work with the School to ensure the placement runs smoothly.
To be considered:
- Communication between Faculty Placement Coordinator, student, Disability Liaison Officer (DLO), Auslan interpreter and the school is important.
- Explore possible scenarios that may crop up and think about solutions to potential problems.
- Clarify the responsibilities and expectations of everyone involved in the placement.
- Consider the use of any assistive technologies.
- Make sure the mainstream students and school staff are prepared for working with an interpreter and the Deaf student.
- The logistics of working with two Auslan interpreters in the classroom if classes are long.
- Make sure you, as the teaching student feel prepared and get familiar with the environment.
- What do you think the main challenges will be? Explore possible solutions with the team.
- What are you worried about? Plan for situations that may come up or know who to contact if you have an issue.
- Keep in touch with our Placement Coordinator and contact your DLO if you have any issues.
Many Deaf students have had successful placements in mainstream schools and some schools have welcomed the opportunity for their students to learn basic Auslan and some schools even have Auslan as their LOTE language.