User:SignerCSW

Communication Support Worker or CSW

What is a CSW?

A CSW is a person who provides various forms of communication support to deaf and hard of hearing students in schools, colleges and universities and training centres across the UK facilitating access to education. There is a huge demand across the country for people who are skilled enough to work with deaf learners to ensure that they have access to education at the same level as their hearing peers and to enable the deaf learner participate fully in the learning environment.

What skills do CSWs require?

The skills required for this work are a minimum BSL level 3 and training in support strategies, Deaf people and community, Language development, linguistics and communication.

The only professionally recognised qualification at present is the EDEXCEL BTec Award in Communication Support Work, however there is a distinct lack of availability of this training course in the UK today.

do not at present recognise CSWs as Language Service Professionals in their own right, however after many years fighting for recognition CSWs now have their own organisation