Deaf Umbrella

🎉 Happy International Left-handers Day! 🎉⁠
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Today is a day to recognise all those individuals who have mastered using their left hand in a right-handed world.⁠
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Let's raise our left hands and have some fun with fascinating facts about left-handers! 🤚⁠
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1️⃣ Only about 10% of the world's population is left-handed! Lefties, you're truly unique and special!⁠
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2️⃣ Leonardo da Vinci, one of history's greatest geniuses, was left-handed!⁠
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3️⃣ Left-handers often excel in creative fields like music, art, and writing.⁠
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4️⃣ The word "left" comes from the Old English word "lyft," which means weak or broken. But left-handers are anything but weak 😏⁠
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5️⃣ Using their left hand, left-handers can easily read and write in mirror writing!⁠
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6️⃣ Lefties have a better chance of becoming president – 5 of the last 8 U.S. presidents have been left-handed! ⁠
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Tag your lefty friends and let them know how amazing they are! 💜⁠
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And to add some extra excitement, here's the fingerspelling alphabet in British Sign Language (BSL) for left-handers! 🤟⁠
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CelebrateDiversity

If you’re an employer working with Deaf professionals, you might be unsure how to support effective communication in the workplace. That’s where Communication Support Workers (CSWs) come in!

A CSW ensures smooth, accessible communication by:
✅ Supporting meetings, whether in-person or virtual
✅ Facilitating communication with colleagues and clients
✅ Assisting with written tasks like note-taking or reports
✅ Ensuring access to training, workshops, or events

They bridge the gap your team may not even realise exists.

💡 Did you know that Deaf professionals can often access this support through schemes like Access to Work (AtW)? Ensuring inclusivity doesn’t just benefit individuals; it strengthens your whole team.

If you want to know more about CSW services or inclusion in the workplace, we’re here to help.

Learn more about our support services:https://www.deafumbrella.com/support-employers

By lunchtime, many Deaf employees are already exhausted, because communication itself has become hard work.

Imagine trying to:
• lipread
• follow captions
• watch slides
• take notes
• process conversations
• keep up with interruptions
…all at the same time. Every single day.

Most workplaces never even realise this invisible exhaustion exists.

There's an article about communication fatigue, listening exhaustion, and why Deaf awareness matters far beyond compliance. Read here:

A Deaf employee shouldn’t need to become exhausted just to survive a normal workday Listening fatigue and communication exhaustion affect many Deaf employees daily. Learn why workplaces must better understand communication fatigue and Deaf awar

DEAF STUDENT; Get on course. ENROL TODAY!⁠
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If you are a Deaf student, you can make the London South East Colleges the destination for you! They offer a variety of courses to suit your needs and they provide full communication support to cover any additional need you have as a Deaf student. ⁠
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If you live in the South East and you match the criteria above, then apply ASAP.

Contact us by DM 👍️⁠
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Before September starts, here is something every teacher should know about Deaf education.

A Deaf student may arrive in your classroom with exactly the same potential as their hearing peers, but not necessarily the same access to background knowledge.

Why?

Because much of what hearing children learn happens accidentally.

They overhear conversations.
They listen to family discussions.
They catch information on the radio, television, and around school.

This is called incidental learning, and many Deaf children miss large parts of it.

Understanding this concept can completely change the way we support Deaf learners in the classroom.

We've shared an article explaining what incidental learning is, why it matters, and how educators can help bridge the gap.

Read here:

Incidental Learning: Why Deaf children miss it... and what we can do about it Discover why incidental learning matters for Deaf kids, what they might miss, and how we can turn lost moments into learning gold.

Knowing BSL is one thing, but working as a CSW in a real classroom, under pressure, supporting a Deaf student in real time… is something else.

September is closer than you think, and many CSWs are thinking about their options: Freelance? Direct employment? Agency work?

We’ve written about the benefits of working with an agency, not just for job placement, but for ongoing support, development, and stability.

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Looking for CSW work this September? Learn why working with an agency might be the right step Looking for CSW work this September? Discover how working with an agency can offer support, stability, and real career development.

Last-minute recruitment rarely gives you the best choice; It gives you the quickest one.

When Deaf students or employees rely on Communication Support Workers (CSWs), planning ahead means:
✔ Better matching
✔ Better continuity
✔ Less stress
✔ More confidence for everyone involved

We've shared our thoughts in our latest newsletter and article. Read more:

Why more colleges and employers are recruiting CSWs through agencies before September Recruiting Communication Support Workers for September can quickly become stressful for colleges and employers. This article explores why more organisations are choosing specialist agencies for CSW recruitment, the benefits of ongoing professional support, and what to look for when planning Deaf sup...

Last-minute recruitment rarely gives you the best choice; It gives you the quickest one.

When Deaf students or employees rely on Communication Support Workers (CSWs), planning ahead means:
✔ Better matching
✔ Better continuity
✔ Less stress
✔ More confidence for everyone involved

We've shared our thoughts in this article:

Why more colleges and employers are recruiting CSWs through agencies before September Recruiting Communication Support Workers for September can quickly become stressful for colleges and employers. This article explores why more organisations are choosing specialist agencies for CSW recruitment, the benefits of ongoing professional support, and what to look for when planning Deaf sup...

Meetings are where decisions are made, ideas are shared, projects move forward... So if someone can't fully access the conversation, they're missing more than just information; they're missing opportunities to contribute.

Download our FREE Inclusive Meeting Checklist and discover how small changes can make every meeting more accessible:

Inclusive Meeting Checklist for Employers | Free Download Download our free Inclusive Meeting Checklist and discover practical tips to make meetings more accessible for Deaf colleagues and improve communication.

One of the biggest myths we hear: "We'd love to support Deaf staff, but we can't afford it."⁠🙅
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Many employers are surprised to discover what Access to Work can help fund.⁠
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Comment "ACCESS", and we'll send more information about how the scheme works.⁠
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