Building Teacher Confidence When Working with Deaf Students
A practical guide to accessible teaching and effective collaboration between teachers and learning support assistants (LSAs). It helps school teams combine teaching expertise with Deaf cultural, language and access knowledge to strengthen Deaf students’ participation, belonging and progress.
Designed for teachers, Deaf and hearing LSAs, SENCOs, learning support coordinators and school leaders, the guide can be used independently or with colleagues. Its eight sections offer practical strategies, classroom activities and reflection prompts that staff can apply at their own pace.
What the guide covers
Understanding individual Deaf learners, their communication preferences and access needs.
Improving classroom communication, visual sightlines, turn-taking and access to information.
Planning visually accessible lessons, vocabulary and curriculum support.
Recognising and recording independent achievement and supported performance.
Clarifying teacher and LSA responsibilities while respecting each person’s expertise.
Using student and whānau perspectives to review teaching and support.
Managing professional differences through clear, respectful conversations.
Reviewing practice and agreeing actions for ongoing improvement.
Practical tools included
The guide includes a professional role matrix, a before–during–after lesson routine, a teacher–LSA working agreement, reflection spaces, a review table and an action plan.
These tools help staff agree responsibilities, coordinate support and review what is working for the student.
Choose your resource format
PDF Guide — NZ$49
The full guide in PDF format, including tools and tables for printing and completing by hand.
PDF Guide + Editable Documents — NZ$69
The full PDF guide plus editable documents for completing and adapting the working agreement, review records and action plan.
School use
A one-off purchase for use within one school. Apply the guidance to each student’s communication preferences, language and access needs, alongside relevant specialist advice.
Delivery
Your files will be emailed to the address provided at checkout within two working days of purchase.