A Language Access Lens is a way of looking at school, learning, and everyday life through the perspective of access. It helps you notice when communication feels clear, easy, and connected — and when it doesn’t.

In the Language Access Lens – High School workbook, it’s described as more than just hearing or speaking; it’s about being able to see, understand, and connect in every part of school life. Language access is what makes learning fair, friendships possible, and school a place where you feel safe and included

Using a Language Access Lens helps students and families:

• Understand what real access looks like across learning, friendships, safety, and wellbeing.

• Recognise what’s working well — and where barriers still exist.

• Build confidence to speak up about what’s needed.

The following workbooks in this series help families and students use that “lens” to identify where access is strong, where it’s missing, and what changes will make learning and life more inclusive.

Language Access Lens – High School

The Language Access Lens – High School workbook supports Deaf/deaf students to explore what language access means in their daily school life.

It helps students reflect on how they experience communication across learning, friendships, wellbeing, and participation — and builds confidence to speak up about what they need to feel included and understood.

The workbook encourages students to look at school through an access lens — to notice what’s working well, identify barriers, and learn practical ways to ask for support.

This resource is part of the Language Access Lens series, developed to help families and young people identify where access is strong, where it’s missing, and how to create more inclusive environments for Deaf/deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Who it’s for:
This workbook is designed for Deaf/deaf students in Years 7–12, their families, teachers, and school support teams. It can be used as part of personal reflection, learning support sessions, or IEP planning to strengthen communication, confidence, and inclusion.

Language_Access_Lens -High School