The National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC) has been awarded a five-year, $2.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration for Beyond Access: Strengthening Interpreter Capacity for Deaf Youth in Transition.
Led by Principal Investigator Carrie Lou Bloom, PhD, and Co-Principal Investigator Jeffrey Levi Palmer, PhD, the national initiative will focus on strengthening interpreter capacity in the settings where deaf young people are preparing for what comes next—including postsecondary education, vocational rehabilitation, career development, and employment.
For NDC, this work grows directly from what we have learned through years of research, technical assistance, and partnership with deaf communities across the country. Deaf young people continue to encounter barriers during transition, and communication access is an essential part of whether they can participate fully, make informed decisions, advocate for themselves, and pursue their goals.
Beyond Access will bring a deaf-led, community-informed approach to strengthening the interpreter workforce. Deaf interpreters will be at the forefront of the project as trainers and leaders, helping shape professional learning grounded in deaf people’s experiences, autonomy, and expectations for high-quality access.
That approach is also reflected within the NDC team. Deaf interpreters Leang Ngov and Diego Ozuna-Clark will bring their professional expertise and lived knowledge to the development and delivery of the project, alongside other NDC personnel contributing expertise in transition, workforce development, training, and technical assistance.
“This project is an opportunity to strengthen interpreting practice by centering the knowledge of deaf people and deaf interpreters. We know that access during transition is about more than being present in the room. Deaf young people need communication access that supports their autonomy, informed choice, and ability to fully participate in decisions about their education and careers.”
— Carrie Lou Bloom, Director
NDC will work closely with the Rehabilitation Services Administration and project partners in the coming months to finalize implementation plans. Subscribe to NDC’s newsletter for updates on Beyond Access, including future training opportunities and project activities.
