Accessible practices and accommodations during lectures for students who are deaf or hard of hearing in higher education.

During the last decades, several students who are deaf or hard of hearing (SDHH) attend higher education institutions. The level of lecturers' awareness regarding accessible practices and the provision of such practices or accommodations during lectures play a major role in students' access. The purpose of this study was to investigate the educational practices and accommodations that lecturers used during lectures to enhance academic access to SDHH. In total, 51 lecturers were interviewed. The interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis and a three-stage coding procedure. Lecturers adopted various practices and accommodations that enhanced the access of SDHH during lectures, such as using visual educational tools, explaining difficult terms, monitoring comprehension, maintaining visual contact, repeating and providing environmental accommodations. Lecturers pointed out the importance of accessible educational practices for all students. The study indicates the need to make lecturers aware of the use of flexible teaching approaches and accommodations that benefit SDHH and other students promoting a culture of inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]