CONNECTING DEAF HIGH-SCHOOLERS WITH CYBER-CAREERS

In an effort to increase the number of deaf and hard-of-hearing students who choose computer-related fields in college, the National Science Foundation has awarded $749,000 to NTID to develop dual-credit courses with five national high-school partners. Project Fast Forward: Pathway to an IT Education for Deaf and HoH Students is a three-year effort that will serve as a framework for future programs nationwide.

NTID Information and Computing Studies faculty members Donna Lange, of Avon, and Myra Pelz, of Pittsford, will work with Rochester School for the Deaf; Lexington School for the Deaf in Jackson Heights, New York; Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine; the Plano, Texas, Independent School District; and University High School in Irvine, California.

In addition to developing courses for more than 500 students from these high schools, the project will offer courses and workshop in IT-related fields for teachers and guidance counselors as well as best teaching practices and training for hearing teachers who work in mainstream classrooms.

“Dual-credit courses can help reduce barriers and ease the transition from high school to college for deaf and HoH students,” Pelz said. “NTID has the experience and resources to provide high schools with course materials and career information to help move students from high school to college and on to careers in information technology, where deaf individuals are underrepresented.”

Dateline: July 26, 2006