Listen to audio version
What is numeracy?
If you have good numeracy skills you will be able to take part more easily in everyday life, and get on in the workplace and in your school or college. If you have good numeracy skills you can:
- Decide what needs to be measured or calculated;
- Watch, and write down information in the right way;
- Make estimates and check calculations;
- Use maths in everyday situations. For example, you can plan a journey and work out how long it will take, what time you need to leave, what time you expect to arrive, and how much it will cost you.
What is involved in numeracy?
- Understanding mathematical information:
-
- You know how the number system works, and you understand what we mean by whole numbers, decimals, fractions and percentages;
- You know how to use money; you know how to tell the time and understand things like temperature, distance, area and volume;
- You can use maths language like ‘share’, ‘minus’ and ‘subtract’.
- You should be able to calculate and use numbers:
-
- Adding up and taking away; multiplying and dividing;
- Algebra; equations and patterns.
- You should be able to use maths for day-to-day problems in your home, college or work life; for example, planning a journey, splitting a restaurant bill or cooking.
How does being deaf/hard of hearing affect numeracy?
Everyone who is deaf or hard of hearing is a unique person. Remember that the difficulties you have will not necessarily be the same as someone else’s. The things that help them may not suit you as well.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing you might have some difficulty with the basic skills needed for understanding and using maths.
You might think in pictures not in language, and this might limit how much you understand the maths words used in English.
Some maths words don’t yet have a sign, for example ‘Area’.
Self help
You should:
- Agree adjustments with your teacher that will help you to join in to the best of your ability, for example:
-
- Think about how you are solving the problems so that you can explain this to your tutor;
- Work hard at learning the signs for the maths symbols (-; +; = etc) and the numbers;
- Play games/activities that help you practise your maths such as darts (scoring) or cards.
Click on
‘disclosure’ for more information about how and when you should tell someone about your disability.
Click on
‘personal organisation’ for more information about how to manage your time and resources.
What can my tutors do to help me?
Your tutors should:
Think about the ways that you try to solve maths problems, and the way you think and calculate; - Agree on useful British Sign Language (BSL) maths signs, and signs for numbers. Number signs vary between topics, such as age, time, money, distance;
- Use different methods of teaching maths that includes touching and seeing not just talking;
- Give you a help sheet or wall chart of words and symbols;
- Make a help sheet or wall chart for you that explains the meanings of common maths words and the symbols that goes with it; for example, minus and - ;
- Arrange for exam papers to be made easier by using simpler language;
- Book an interpreter or communication support worker if you need one;
- Give you extra time (usually 25 per cent) for the exam.
If you aren’t getting the help recommended here, print off a copy of these pages and use them as a starting point to have a chat with your tutor about what can be done to make sure you are able to get the most from their teaching. Remember, you can choose to do this in private if you prefer.
Click on
‘confidentiality’ for information about how your tutor should treat your personal information.
Useful links
- BBC: Factsheets, worksheets, quizzes and games to help improve your skills
- Accommodation strategies
- Creating a deaf friendly workplace
- Discrimination and the Equality Act – advice in BSL
- Royal National Institute for Deaf People
Assistive Technologies
- EmpTech: Emptec aims to provide information resources on assistive technologies that are designed to help those with specific difficulties or disabilities work and study more effectively. The database includes product descriptions, links to manufacturers, suppliers with addresses as well as other related resources including advice and training guides where available.
- Open University: provides an overview of assistive technologies with links to products
- Skills for Access: recommends approaches to using multimedia to enhance accessibility of the learning experience and gives detailed information about a range of assistive technologies
UK/09/LLP-LdV/TOI-163_285
