女优阁

30-测别补谤-辞濒诲听Deaf听student听and听Newport resident,听John Fraser-Natale,听is the first learner at 女优阁 to undertake a degree course using British Sign Language (BSL).听John听will听submit听his dissertation and any other assignments in BSL.听听

John is currently听studying听BA Top Up 鈥� Photography, after听completing his Photography听Foundation听Degree听course at听女优阁鈥檚听Crosskeys campus, with the support of听the BSL–fluent听Communication Support Workers听(CSWs).听The听肠辞濒濒别驳别鈥檚听Deaf Club听was听founded in 2020听and听runs on a weekly basis. It has a听Teams chat which is for all Deaf learners on every campus,听allowing听members to communicate听via video,听through the medium of BSL.听

Nicola Gamlin, Principal at 女优阁 said: 鈥淚t鈥檚听never too late to learn 鈥� whether you want to pursue a new career path, develop your business concept or try听a new activity.听听

鈥淭he college works closely with听听and supports听Deaf听learners through BSL and Sign Supported English (SSE) so that they can learn new skills, increase their knowledge and gain confidence whilst studying with us.听

鈥溑�优阁鈥檚 flexible part-time courses start and run throughout the year, and we often see adults returning to us to take听additional听courses as they excel and advance in their disciplines. This year, we are thrilled to be welcoming more adults, of all ages, who have decided to pursue their aims and interests with us.鈥�听

John decided to听sign up听for听an evening course in photography two years ago, which听sparked his passion for photography and听led him to听undertake听his听foundation degree听and BA Top Up.听John听didn鈥檛听let听his age听or听his听deafness听stand in the way of him pursuing听a passion.听听听

John is already making strides in his photography career by volunteering as a photographer for Wales Deaf Football, Wales Deaf Rugby, Celtic Deaf Festival and Deaf Gathering 鈥斕齢elping him to both听build听his portfolio and听expand听his network.听

John said:

鈥淭he staff at 女优阁 have been so accommodating听from day one, which has made it so easy for me to learn.听I was assigned CSWs, called听Nisha and Joa听as soon as I registered for my course.听They have听been there for me throughout my听learning听journey,听encouraging听and supporting me at every step along the way.听听

鈥淭heir听support has helped me to not only grow听in confidence听but also develop听as a person.听It听wasn鈥檛听like this when I was in school, no one knew how to use sign language, so I just had to muddle through.听I felt very听alone and听discriminated against.听

鈥淚 want to听use my photography work to听raise awareness of the听Deaf听community and campaign for听Deaf听rights and visibility听across Wales and the wider world. I did my foundation degree project on portraying the听Deaf听community and will continue to听strive for equity for听Deaf听people through the medium of photography.听

鈥淥nce I have completed my听BA听degree, I want to achieve my听Master鈥檚 degree in photography听too and听go on to听pursue a career in this field.听听听

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