When examining postsecondary outcomes for deaf people, identifying the underlying root causes and key impact areas is crucial to discovering the source of systemic barriers. NDC’s new online learning module, Discovering System Barriers and Exploring the WHY, is a self-paced online course that will guide participants through a one-hour look at the underlying root causes that have an impact on educational attainment and postsecondary experiences for deaf people.
Root Causes & Postsecondary Outcomes
Understanding root causes is an important step for moving beyond temporary solutions to address the underlying factors of educational inequities for deaf people. Through the use of situational examples and critical thinking exercises, this module demonstrates that systemic changes require an intensive analysis to create sustainable long-term change.
Through the course materials in Discovering System Barriers and Exploring the WHY, participants will explore systemic barriers and learn how to identify situations or experiences that reflect the four (4) underlying root causes that affect postsecondary outcomes for deaf people: limited access to language and communication, reduced social opportunities, negative attitudes and biases, and a lack of qualified and experienced professionals. Participants will be asked to consider root causes of the barriers in their day-to-day operations. Are they the same or similar to those listed above?
Upon completion of this module, participants will be able to state how root cause analysis can help strengthen operations and practices within their programs or agencies. By identifying underlying causes of problems, participants will have a better understanding of experiences for deaf people across postsecondary settings.
NDC is Just Getting Started
Discovering System Barriers and Exploring the WHY is one of six (6) core content modules being developed to establish foundational knowledge essential to reducing barriers and implementing systems changes that can be sustained over time. Other core modules include: Deaf 101, Attitudes and Biases as Barriers for Deaf People, Legal Frameworks (available Fall 2022), Accommodations 101 (available Fall 2022), and Transforming Systems (coming December 2022).
While this module focuses on the overarching issue of educational and employment disparities for deaf people, we encourage you to think about specific problems when exploring root causes in your setting. For a deeper understanding of how systemic barriers impact the lives of millions, view our current data on educational attainment for deaf people across the United States.
Visit our NDC Data Resources at the end of the module to find the most recent data to identify issues specific to your state or area of work.
Discovering System Barriers and Exploring the WHY is free and open to all. [name] can be earned by successfully registering for and completing the self-paced online learning module and satisfactorily passing a post-learning assessment.
