An inspiring Early Years & Education student from Solihull College & University Centre is setting his sights on a career supporting children with hearing loss, drawing on his own lived experience to make a positive difference.
Shoaib Khan, 21, has been deaf since birth. He struggled to communicate when he was younger and found school life tough until he learnt British Sign Language. Things changed when he was five and he had cochlear implants to make his hearing more manageable. Shoaib said it made positive changes to his life: “I started to learn a few words and my English improved and I started to talk a lot! I found that I had more friends and my social life improved.”
Initially studying his Level 2 Early Years courses at the College’s Woodlands Campus with the vision of becoming a teaching assistant, Shoaib then progressed onto the Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools Diploma.
Shoaib says he has always wanted to work with children: “This would be the perfect role for me as I have a good understanding of what deaf children are going through. I can interact with them on their level which means I have good relationships and they can bond with me.”
Shoaib has completed 120 hours of work placements including supporting students at Brays special school and is now applying for a role there: “I want to be a deaf role model for the young children and show them you can do anything and not be held back by your hearing loss. My parents are so proud of what I have achieved, and I can’t wait to share my experience with deaf students.”
Deaf Support Co-ordinator at the College, Claire Whatmore, says Shoaib is an inspiration: “Shoaib has worked so hard and is an amazing deaf role model. It’s so encouraging to see how the pupils react to him. He is proving that anything is possible.”
Christine Mason is Shoaib’s Communication Support Worker and is so proud of what he has achieved so far: “This is my first year in this role and we have been on a learning journey together. He is an amazing student, and I can’t wait to see how he progresses onto the next stage of his working life.”
We wish Shoaib all the very best!
