How do U.S. universities rank with deaf students? According to a nationwide survey of deaf college students last spring:
- 54% say they don’t feel welcome participating in student activities or clubs on campus.
- 57% say faculty are unlikely to provide them with notes or slides ahead of time.
- 53% say their campus disability services office does not collect their formal feedback about their interpreters and other service providers.
This critical matter of campus accessibility and equity can impact the success of deaf students — especially as institutions of higher learning strive to provide a fair and equitable learning environment for all students.
In an effort to improve deaf student success, the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes this month launched the 2019-20 annual Project Opening Doors survey for faculty and deaf students. This year includes a new survey for disability support staff.
All students who take the survey will be entered to win a $25 gift card for Amazon.com. Drawings will be twice a month in November, December and January. Students who took the 2018-19 survey must retake the 2019-20 survey to be eligible to win.
The results will be compiled into a series of free accessibility reports, customized for any institution that has 10 or more students complete the survey. These reports will compare how universities rank with peers nationwide, and help them combine that information with National Deaf Center’s services to develop campus improvement plans.
All faculty, disability services staff, and deaf students are encouraged to take the survey, and use the National Deaf Center’s extensive federally-funded resources and one-on-one assistance, including online courses and toolkits.
Learn more about Project Opening Doors at nationaldeafcenter.org/pod.
