DeafInEd

DeafInEd (formerly CHESS) is a voluntary organisation of Higher Education professionals working with and supporting deaf and hard of hearing students. Anyone is welcome to join: members are affiliated via the DeafInEd Forum email discussion list, where issues and questions are raised regarding the support of deaf students. This allows members to exchange knowledge and ideas promptly and effectively in a mutually discursive environment.

DeafInEd with a small icon of a mortar board hat on the right hand side and a strap line underneath, which reads 'Promoting inclusion in HE'

DeafInEd Aims

  • To promote and disseminate good practice in supporting deaf and hard of hearing students.
  • To support all Higher Education Institutions in developing good practice.

DeafInEdPlanning Group

Our planning group is made up of a small number of volunteers from various organisations around the country. We meet on a quarterly basis to discuss issues which might need addressing on a national level, to organise national events, to generate questions and answers for the online forum and to feedback on new policy and practice which will be shared with the wider membership. In summary, we:

  • Organise meetings and plan the content.
  • Act as a focal point for communication with outside agencies.
  • Provide representation on other groups if requested.
  • Oversee and encourage furthering of the DeafInEd principles.

Planning Group Members

Frances Lewin

I qualified as a BSL/English interpreter in 2001 and work in a variety of domains including higher education. I am also a professional standards advisor and interpreter assessor. In addition to my interpreting work, I am currently pursuing a PhD at University College London (UCL), where my research explores deaf students’ experiences of interpreting support in higher education, with a particular focus on how the procurement process shapes these experiences.

Bryan Coleman

I am the Head of the Disability and Dyslexia Support Service at the University of Sheffield. My main experience of working with deaf and hard of hearing students came as a support worker co-ordinator at Sheffield Hallam University several years ago. Since then I have worked as a disability adviser at Brunel University and deputy manager of the Disability Support Office at Manchester University. I gained BSL Stage 2 in 2002 but, unfortunately, rarely get the chance to use it now – Sheffield University has approximately 160 students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

James Fitzgerald

James is the Professional Lead for the Post-16  team within Physical & Sensory Support at Surrey County Council that provides a specialist access and education support service to deaf students and those with vision or multi-sensory impairment in universities and colleges across Surrey. Prior to this, James worked at City Lit for 22 years in different specialist support roles and then as joint head of the Centre for Deaf Education which included management of City Lit’s NMH support service for deaf student in London.

James is a registered BSL/English interpreter as well as a qualified interpreting practice assessor and senior practitioner. He is a former trustee for NRCPD and co-moderates the E-NEWSLI forum for sign language interpreters.

Judith Hutchinson

Judith has been the MD of Total Communication for 35 years. A fully qualified interpreter, she manages a team of 35 who provide services to their local Deaf communities,  and  FE and HE students. She has worked with Deaf students for over 30 years.

Lynne Barnes

 Up until my retirement on 31st July 2024, I was a Principal Lecturer in BSL & Deaf Studies at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. I co-ordinated the BSL & Deaf Studies team and taught on the undergraduate and post-graduate degree programmes. I previously worked part-time for Disability Services as an Adviser for Deaf Students. I am a former Teacher of the Deaf and support tutor for deaf students in both F.E. and H.E. My research interests lie in issues of access to higher education and to employment for deaf students. I am a National Teaching Fellow and train both Specialist Notetakers for Deaf Students and Specialist Support Professionals for Deaf Students. In 2020 I was awarded the National Association of Disability Practitioners’ (NADP) Lifetime Achievement Award. I currently hold an Honorary position at the university.

Helen Young

I have over 20 years’ experience in disability support across Higher Education and the voluntary sector. Since 2016, I have been Deputy Head of the Disability Advisory Service (DAS) at the University of Oxford, including two years as Acting Head. I oversee operational management of the service and strategically inform policy and practice to support disabled student inclusion. As the University’s sensory support lead, I provide specialist advice on student casework and train staff on supporting deaf and hard of hearing students, as well as those with visual and dual sensory conditions. Prior to DSA changes in 2024, I was Head of the Oxford University Assessment Centre for over 10 years, gaining extensive knowledge of DSA processes. I continue to oversee the delivery and quality assurance of all Study Needs Assessments for Non-DSA funded students, as well as those funded by SAAS and Research Councils, at the University of Oxford. Before this, I spent nine years in the voluntary sector, managing sensory support services, including at Sense and a Midlands-based charity, where I remain a trustee.

I have served on the CHESS Executive Planning Group since 2012 and as a Director of the National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP) since 2018. My qualifications include a Postgraduate Diploma in Deafblind Studies, Level 2 BSL (Signature), I am also a fluent deafblind manual signer. I am also currently undertaking a part-time Doctorate in Education, focussing on inclusive assessment practices in Higher Education.