Thursday 23 May 2013
The Murder of the Woolwich Soldier
Regarding yesterdays events. If you read the Qur'an you can find passages that condemn this kind of violence and promote peace. This is what the majority of good, peaceful, intelligent Muslims live by. But with another few page turns you can find passages that explicitly promote evil, hatred and death. And a dangerous number do just that, with extreme deluded passion. If only the world could drop these unnecessary stone-age texts and live a moral life based on rational discussion and cease to respect the notion of faith (belief in the absence of evidence). Until we fully promote a secular world we are only making the earth safer for people who want to use the worst aspects of their religion to carry out acts of bigotry, hate and violence. It's 2013 - so lets take some advice from the mission statement of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science: "... to support scientific education, critical thinking and evidence-based understanding of the natural world in the quest to overcome religious fundamentalism, superstition, intolerance and human suffering".
Sunday 19 May 2013
A review of my art project, by James Merrick.
"With Alex Hamlin Thinks About Art Alex uses the favourite weapon in contemporary arts’ arsenal, irony, and reflects it devastatingly back on itself" - James Merrick
Friday 23 November 2012
Communication Support Worker Interview
An interview I was recently asked to do about my work as a CSW in FE.
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1. Tell us about educational communication support worker work - what do you do?
Essentially you are the main point of support between Deaf students and the educational institution as a whole, from when the person is choosing a course, through to graduation. In addition to providing BSL interpreting for lessons and meetings, a CSW is responsible for liaising with all staff to ensure relevant support needs are met e.g. a Deaf-friendly teaching style, resources, and for deaf awareness across the institution to be kept at a high level.
2. What is a typical shift like? Who do you work with?
CSW's are usually allocated between 1 and 5 students and would generally support them across their whole timetable. Aside from the students, the CSW will liaise closely with lecturers and all other staff, depending on the support need.
3. Why did you apply for a communication support worker job in the first place?
I was already working as Student Support Worker within City of Bath College, and had BSL knowledge from my work with deaf/deaf-blind clients with additional needs at Action on Hearing Loss (previously RNID). Bringing those skills and experiences together worked perfectly.
4. Where did you learn BSL?
I studied BSL Level 1 at RNID in Bath. During my work there, learning BSL was essential to fully communicate with, and support the clients using the service. I can honestly say it was the most enjoyable course I've been on - a credit to the tutor John Mancini, who made something potentially difficult and overwhelming, easy and exciting. I studied Level 2 at Bath College with the equally talented (but tougher) Mark Shepherd.
5. Did you need special training for the job?
There are specific CSW courses available which are very beneficial but I feel having experience working with students/clients with a range of support needs is paramount. It would be an oversight to see the role as purely a step towards being a fully qualified BSL interpreter, as there are many other aspects to the role and personal qualities required to provide a high level of support to the student.
6. What's the best thing about being a communication support worker?
There are lots! In general, to be able to see students thrive in all aspects of college life, despite the boundaries faced by Deaf people in a largely hearing world. Personally I enjoy the range of people I meet during the students time at college, and also learning about a wide range of subjects by proxy!
7. Do you think that having extra qualifications in this area would be worth-while?
To work as a CSW you are required to hold at least a Level 2 in BSL, but the more BSL qualifications/experience you have, the better. As I mentioned before, I feel the specific CSW qualifications would give a thorough understanding of the role.
8. What makes a great communication support worker?
An understanding educational support worker who has confident BSL knowledge and a passion for Deaf issues/awareness. Being flexible and being able to think on your feet helps too!
9. If you'd wanted to work towards a promotion, what were your options? How else could you have chosen to develop your career in this area?
There are no promotion options as such, but there are other avenues to explore, depending on what you most enjoyed about the role. Someone interested in BSL could train further and become a qualified interpreter, whereas a person who enjoyed the educational aspect could teach BSL or become a teacher of the Deaf. There are many related careers.
10. What do you wish you'd known when you started out? Is there anything you'd tell your younger self?
Not really. But to anyone thinking of applying for a similar role I would advise to not assume the educational institution you are working for has a well established support system in place for Deaf or hard of hearing students. Be prepared to develop resources, deaf awareness training sessions/meetings yourself to ensure the standard of support is high.
11. What do you hope the future holds for communication support workers, i.e. Technology, different management, methods of interaction....?
The only downside to the role would be the effect government education cuts can have. Sometimes a lack of CSW hours and budgets can have a detrimental effect on the support. If this can be addressed I think there's definitely a positive future for Deaf and hard of hearing people in education. With a bit of effort and creativity, current technology can be used in a very Deaf-friendly way. Also, the general public are becoming more Deaf aware which makes the whole experience more enjoyable and productive. Learn BSL, you'll love it.
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----------------
1. Tell us about educational communication support worker work - what do you do?
Essentially you are the main point of support between Deaf students and the educational institution as a whole, from when the person is choosing a course, through to graduation. In addition to providing BSL interpreting for lessons and meetings, a CSW is responsible for liaising with all staff to ensure relevant support needs are met e.g. a Deaf-friendly teaching style, resources, and for deaf awareness across the institution to be kept at a high level.
2. What is a typical shift like? Who do you work with?
CSW's are usually allocated between 1 and 5 students and would generally support them across their whole timetable. Aside from the students, the CSW will liaise closely with lecturers and all other staff, depending on the support need.
3. Why did you apply for a communication support worker job in the first place?
I was already working as Student Support Worker within City of Bath College, and had BSL knowledge from my work with deaf/deaf-blind clients with additional needs at Action on Hearing Loss (previously RNID). Bringing those skills and experiences together worked perfectly.
4. Where did you learn BSL?
I studied BSL Level 1 at RNID in Bath. During my work there, learning BSL was essential to fully communicate with, and support the clients using the service. I can honestly say it was the most enjoyable course I've been on - a credit to the tutor John Mancini, who made something potentially difficult and overwhelming, easy and exciting. I studied Level 2 at Bath College with the equally talented (but tougher) Mark Shepherd.
5. Did you need special training for the job?
There are specific CSW courses available which are very beneficial but I feel having experience working with students/clients with a range of support needs is paramount. It would be an oversight to see the role as purely a step towards being a fully qualified BSL interpreter, as there are many other aspects to the role and personal qualities required to provide a high level of support to the student.
6. What's the best thing about being a communication support worker?
There are lots! In general, to be able to see students thrive in all aspects of college life, despite the boundaries faced by Deaf people in a largely hearing world. Personally I enjoy the range of people I meet during the students time at college, and also learning about a wide range of subjects by proxy!
7. Do you think that having extra qualifications in this area would be worth-while?
To work as a CSW you are required to hold at least a Level 2 in BSL, but the more BSL qualifications/experience you have, the better. As I mentioned before, I feel the specific CSW qualifications would give a thorough understanding of the role.
8. What makes a great communication support worker?
An understanding educational support worker who has confident BSL knowledge and a passion for Deaf issues/awareness. Being flexible and being able to think on your feet helps too!
9. If you'd wanted to work towards a promotion, what were your options? How else could you have chosen to develop your career in this area?
There are no promotion options as such, but there are other avenues to explore, depending on what you most enjoyed about the role. Someone interested in BSL could train further and become a qualified interpreter, whereas a person who enjoyed the educational aspect could teach BSL or become a teacher of the Deaf. There are many related careers.
10. What do you wish you'd known when you started out? Is there anything you'd tell your younger self?
Not really. But to anyone thinking of applying for a similar role I would advise to not assume the educational institution you are working for has a well established support system in place for Deaf or hard of hearing students. Be prepared to develop resources, deaf awareness training sessions/meetings yourself to ensure the standard of support is high.
11. What do you hope the future holds for communication support workers, i.e. Technology, different management, methods of interaction....?
The only downside to the role would be the effect government education cuts can have. Sometimes a lack of CSW hours and budgets can have a detrimental effect on the support. If this can be addressed I think there's definitely a positive future for Deaf and hard of hearing people in education. With a bit of effort and creativity, current technology can be used in a very Deaf-friendly way. Also, the general public are becoming more Deaf aware which makes the whole experience more enjoyable and productive. Learn BSL, you'll love it.
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Sunday 23 September 2012
Mini X-Factor Rant
Watched X-Factor for 5 minutes and wanted to shoot myself in the mouth. Overexaggerated praise and promises of fame for the most mediocre of performers. I bet if one of them took a shit on stage there'd be a standing ovation set to an emotional violin track and people crying saying it was the best shit they'd ever seen.
Wednesday 4 January 2012
The Road Less Travelled
I lay in my Oxford bed wondering how I got here. I rest my head, enjoying steps back in time, pondering over the decisions that have led me here to the people and the experiences I've had over the past couple of months.
I decide it's partly due to my overriding penchant for new, different and sometimes random employment opportunity. And possibly a short attention span.
In recent years, I've earned varying levels of pay acting as rock DJ, music therapist, student support worker, sign language interpreter and I.T bloke, amongst others.
I've not yet found my career path. But I don't think that's me. I wouldn't want it to be. I want my life to be a mix mash of new, fresh experiences. A colourful patchwork quilt of existence. We're all continuously sharpening up our own 'emotional evolution', and maybe this is part of mine. As long as the bills are being paid and I'm enjoying this involuntary ride we call life, I'll probably carry on in the same vein.
After all, as Bill Hicks said.... 'It's just a ride'.
***Title of this post taken from the 1978 Morgan Scott Peck book of the same name. Vaguely relevant - check it out***
Friday 30 September 2011
Wednesday 28 September 2011
Go on then! Sure! Certainly! Of course!
Books are enjoyable, informative and gives one something to do when the internet goes down. But not many actually improve and make life more exciting, injecting little sparks of excitement into the smallest things. Danny Wallace's 'Yes Man' has done that for me recently and I don't what I appreciate more - the comedy of his anecdotes or the effect it's having on my daily life.
Like many of us, I'm all too used to waving away invites, requests or suggestions in favour of non-excuses such as 'I should probably save my money', 'can't really be bothered, mate' or 'I don't think the bus goes there'. Well, I'll tell you now - the bus does go there and you never know who you'll meet on the way.
Rather than going to the extreme and saying yes to penis extentions and Nigerian email scams, I've allowed a 'normal' week to be given a lick of optimistic paint. It's like putting on a pair of yellow lensed sunglasses and looking at stuff. Try it and my comparison will make sense. My weekends have become socially packed, and I've not made any effort. I've just put aside my misanthropic tendencies and replaced them with that little word. A Facebook notification of an event invite from a friend brings a smile to my face. Not because it's something I want to go to (at this point I haven't discovered what the event is!), it's because I know I'm going. No excuses. Turned out to be a Board Games evening in a Bath pub https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=118409294928965 Hmmm :/ Fuck it, I'm in. I'll find a dusty 1994 edition of Scrabble from my childhood bedroom. See you there!
It's funny and inspirational. Do buy the book. Don't watch the film. For those of you who have read it, I have my own 'Ian' who is an inspiration in themselves. So thanks to them for giving me their copy.
Yesyesyes!
Like many of us, I'm all too used to waving away invites, requests or suggestions in favour of non-excuses such as 'I should probably save my money', 'can't really be bothered, mate' or 'I don't think the bus goes there'. Well, I'll tell you now - the bus does go there and you never know who you'll meet on the way.
Rather than going to the extreme and saying yes to penis extentions and Nigerian email scams, I've allowed a 'normal' week to be given a lick of optimistic paint. It's like putting on a pair of yellow lensed sunglasses and looking at stuff. Try it and my comparison will make sense. My weekends have become socially packed, and I've not made any effort. I've just put aside my misanthropic tendencies and replaced them with that little word. A Facebook notification of an event invite from a friend brings a smile to my face. Not because it's something I want to go to (at this point I haven't discovered what the event is!), it's because I know I'm going. No excuses. Turned out to be a Board Games evening in a Bath pub https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=118409294928965 Hmmm :/ Fuck it, I'm in. I'll find a dusty 1994 edition of Scrabble from my childhood bedroom. See you there!
It's funny and inspirational. Do buy the book. Don't watch the film. For those of you who have read it, I have my own 'Ian' who is an inspiration in themselves. So thanks to them for giving me their copy.
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