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The Key Skills Every CSW Needs to Succeed in the Classroom

Hi! My name is Amy Morton, and I'm the founder of Living with Hearing Loss. I was a student a few years ago, and if I had any advice for Communication Support Workers (CSWs) now, it would be this: immerse yourself in the deaf community. You must be part of it to truly understand it. There is so much to learn, and the spectrum of deafness is broad and diverse.

 

This involvement will help you understand your clients and the unique learning experiences they may have had before meeting you. For example, I was fortunate to have had some consistency with my CSW throughout my primary, secondary, and college years. This consistency allowed my CSW to get to know me and work out the support that would best meet my needs.

 

However, I wasn’t a strong advocate at that time, even in my college years. With this, it's essential to understand your students' support prior to college/Uni and to determine if they would like to make any changes or maintain what they had in place previously.

 

To give you some extra context, I am not a British Sign Language (BSL) user (although I am learning in my 40s, and I wish I’d had access to it much sooner). Honestly, everyone, hearing or deaf, should have the opportunity to learn BSL! I grew up with severe hearing loss from birth, using lip reading and first using analogue hearing aids until I was about 14, then digital aids, and later, in my 30s, Bluetooth technology, which changed my life.

 

My communication needs in education included having a note-taker to support me with missed spoken instructions or explanations. At school, I also had access to listening devices, such as a phonics ear, although I must admit, it wasn’t beneficial for my hearing loss. Today, there are more advanced types of assistive technology available, which can transform a learning experience, but not always, and it is a very personal thing, depending on the student's preferences.

 

 

 

Building trust and consistency

 

One of the most valuable things a CSW can offer is consistency. When you are a deaf student, the classroom can often feel unpredictable, with different teachers, new subjects, and changing environments. Having the same CSW over time helped me feel safe and supported. It meant my CSW didn’t have to relearn my needs every lesson, and I could focus more on learning rather than worrying about access. Trust grows slowly, but it makes a huge difference.

 

Advocacy and independence

 

It’s essential for CSWs to strike a balance between support and independence. While you are there to facilitate access, you are not there to speak for the student. Encourage them to advocate for themselves when they feel confident to do so. Sometimes, a gentle reminder, like “Would you like to ask the teacher to repeat that?” can give them the nudge to use their own voice. Your role is not only to support learning, but to help build lifelong confidence.

 

Flexibility and adaptability

 

No two students are the same, and even the same student can have very different needs depending on the subject, the teacher, or their mood on a given day. Being a CSW requires adaptability - sometimes you’ll need to adjust where you sit, how much you intervene, or how you provide support. What worked yesterday may not work today, and that’s okay. The key is to stay observant, open, and responsive.

 

Everyday communication tips

 

The most minor things can make the most significant difference. Always make eye contact before speaking, don’t cover your mouth, and be mindful of background noise. Check if your student prefers written notes, visual aids, or summaries at the end of class. Please encourage students to ask teachers to share lesson materials in advance, so they have time to prepare. These adjustments may seem simple, but they can completely transform a learning experience.

 

Ongoing learning

 

Finally, remember that deaf awareness isn’t a one-off skill you can tick off a list. Technology changes, language evolves, and each deaf person’s experience is unique. Stay curious, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. By doing so, you’ll not only support your student better, but you’ll also grow as a professional.

 

My top five tips for trainee CSWs

 

  1. Research and engage with the deaf community – build connections and develop cultural awareness.

  2. Understand your student’s preferences – arrange a one-to-one consultation before lessons to discuss their support needs and access requirements.

  3. Check seating arrangements – ask your student where they would feel most comfortable for you, as their CSW, to sit during class.

  4. Communicate directly – always address your student, not through others, and encourage them to self-advocate in class.

  5. Prioritise clear communication – never make assumptions; ask if you are unsure.

 

I hope this helps you. Be curious and stay connected with the Deaf community. You can build on your training by attending the Becoming a Professional CSW onlie course, and follow Living with Hearing Loss, a free social media platform dedicated to raising awareness about the broad spectrum of deafness.

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