Life after Deaf Studies


Do you wonder what life after Deaf Studies might be like?

Have you considered the career opportunities available to Deaf Studies graduates?

Do you want to know what other graduates have done?

If you have asked any of these questions, then this information might be of interest to you!

Since Deaf Studies was first introduced at UCLan in 1993, many students have successfully graduated and found employment in a number of different areas. Although many graduates choose to seek employment in deaf-related areas, other graduates have used their degree to help them find alternative positions.

There are many exciting, challenging and varied career opportunities available to Deaf Studies graduates.  This list provides an example of the areas in which Deaf Studies graduates have previously found employment:

• Education (eg. teaching/lecturing, teachers of the deaf)
• Interpreting
• Support work (eg. Communication Support Worker, care work, manual or electronic note-taking, teaching/classroom assistants)
• Deaf organisations
• Research
• Social work
• Youth work
• Graduate training schemes with large companies/organisations

Many Deaf Studies graduates have been employed by deaf organisations.  Examples of job roles and titles include: Employment Adviser, Support Co-ordinator, Information Officer, Community Development Officer, Care Manager and Caseworker.

In the past, some graduates have also undertaken further courses and trained as teachers of the deaf, BSL tutors, BSL/English interpreters, social workers, or speech and language therapists.

 
COMMENTS FROM DEAF STUDIES GRADUATES
Here are some interesting comments and career details from Deaf Studies graduates:

Graduates who work with deaf people

Sarah Western: “…I graduated in 2003 and then went travelling.  My first job was in a school for deaf children; I then went on to work for Deafblind UK as their Support Co-ordinator for London.  I now work for as a Care Manager for Deafblind adults…”

Shelley Parker: Since graduating, Shelley has worked for Sense; she has also been employed as a Sign Language Communicator and an Employment Adviser.  In 2005, Shelley became an Employment Advisor for the RNID.
“….This job is extremely rewarding and I enjoy it immensely.  I am working with a caseload of deaf people looking for work and training opportunities and have been given the freedom to develop the whole project.  This means that I am working with deaf people, as well as building links with employers to promote inclusive recruitment and retention procedures for deaf employees.  I think my time at UCLAN has equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to do this successfully.  The deaf studies department couldn't have been more supportive during my time there and helped me to gain the skills that I needed to work within the deaf community…”  

Helen Cudlip: ”…I graduated in 2004 and I was really lucky to have found a job before I had actually finished Uni.  I work with UK Deaf Sport, a Deaf Sports Charity, and my role is PA/Communicator to the Development Manager. This means that in addition to administration tasks (such as filing, replying to correspondence and booking meetings/interpreters etc) I also act as 'communicator' for my boss. This involves interpreting phone calls and translating documents between BSL and English and vice versa.  I also attend meetings to help with communication either by interpreting or note-taking. I am not a qualified interpreter and therefore on certain occasions, such as important meetings or conferences, I will book qualified interpreters.  I applied for the job as I had admin experience and wanted to work for a deaf organisation; this opportunity came at the perfect time. It has given me a chance to improve my signing skills and to build on the knowledge of the deaf community etc that I got from my deaf studies degree…”

Michael Stead: Michael graduated in 2004 with a Deaf Studies and Social Policy honours degree.  Initially he found a part time job as a Community Support Worker which involved helping people with learning disabilities. Eight months ago, Michael successfully became a Community Development Officer for East Lancashire Deaf Society in Blackburn.

 Graduates who work abroad

Rachel Feldman graduated in 2003 and now works in Vancouver.  She completed further courses after her Deaf Studies degree, including the University Certificate in Communicative Competence and Signed Interaction.  Rachel currently works for the Urban Native Youth Association which involves working with at-risk young First Nations women.  

Graduates who work in non-deaf related areas

Michelle Caslin graduated in 2004 with a combined honours degree in Deaf Studies and Education Studies.  Initially she became a home care support worker for a disabled child with severe complex needs.  Michelle has recently decided that she wants to study Midwifery and is hoping to be accepted onto a course soon. In the mean time, Michelle will be working with teenage mothers:“….This job will be working with teenage mothers who are living in hostels. I will be supporting them and helping them to get back in the community with their own accommodation.  I have been informed that one of the teenage mothers is Deaf, so I will be putting my degree to good use…”

Finding jobs:

• Look at the job vacancies on the deaf organisation websites. For a list of suggested deaf organisations,
  click on ‘Useful links‘. 
  
  
• Deaf UK Jobs is a free e-mail subscription service for deaf-related job vacancies. After you have subscribed to Deaf UK Jobs, you will receive regular e-mails detailing the current vacancies.    To subscribe, send an email to: deaf-uk-jobs-subscribe@egroups.com.
  
  
• The RNID has more information about careers involving work with deaf people.  Click on this link to view the RNID Factsheet Careers with Deaf People:
  http://www.rnid.org.uk/information_resources/
  factsheets/employment/factsheets_leaflets/
  careers_with_deaf_people.htm