Steps to Ensure Access for Deaf Students in Assessments
Standardized testing has many uses in education, but far too often deaf students are left without fully equitable test taking opportunities. These tests can be vital to a student’s success. They measure progress, document achieving, and show readiness for postsecondary education or employment.
In Case You Missed It…
The end of the year is often a time of reflection and looking back on the things that impacted us the most. In 2021, many of us were challenged to find ways to adapt to life after a year of lockdown, disconnection, and isolation. During this time, many people turned to NDC to help them navigate a variety of issues that act as barriers to #deafsuccess.
In case you missed it, below are the most common questions for the top 6 content areas we received this past year and a list of resources we provided in response.
Centralized Systems that Promote #DeafSuccess at Colleges and Universities
The National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC) partnered with the National Association for the Deaf (NAD) to explain how best to provide accessibility for deaf students and how to make the most of your budget through a centralized system.
Capacity Building on College Campuses
At NDC, we have worked with many colleges to assess their capacity to give deaf students access to the entire college experience. Looking beyond academic classes, colleges also provide various programs, services, and activities for all students, such as student organizations, residential life, athletic events, health services, study abroad, and on-campus work experiences.
Behind the Scenes of Deafverse: Meet the Creators
As part of our celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC) held a behind-the-scenes event on Deafverse, an NDC online resource designed for deaf youth. This event featured a panel of talented deaf professionals who worked to create this first-of-its-kind online educational game, which has recently launched a new expansion called World Two: Revenge of the Deep. This latest addition, which focuses on job readiness and related skills, builds upon the unique deaf-centered online gaming experience that began with Deafverse World One: Duel of the Bots.
Spotlight: Maryland School for the Deaf is Creating #DeafSuccess with their Work-to-Learn Program
The MSD Transition Department has two key components to meet their high school students’ career transition needs: Work-to-Learn (WTL) and World of Work. Both programs are a collaboration with the Division of Rehabilitation Services, which supports the programs with Pre-Employment Transition Services (pre-ETS) funding.
New Research from NDC: Closing the Gap on #DeafSuccess
Learning new things and gaining new experiences are an amazing part of life. Even after completing high school, learning opportunities like continuing education and training matter — even if it’s just taking a few college courses after graduation. Data analyses from the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC) show that this is especially true for deaf people, who are more likely to have jobs, make more money, and be involved in their communities when they complete high school and continue their education.
Faculty Play a Key Role in #DeafSuccess
Deaf students are attending postsecondary institutions at higher rates than ever before, but the attainment gap has only slightly narrowed in the past decade. Faculty members play a central role in supporting accessible learning environments for deaf students in postsecondary education and training settings. Dr. Stephanie Cawthon, faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin, shares insights and data from NDC’s ACCESS survey.
The Importance of Student Feedback to Improve Campus Access
Every deaf student is different, with varying communication preferences that depend on people, setting, and contexts. With this in mind, disability services offices must take into consideration the experiences of deaf students to determine the most effective accommodations for each situation. To do this, you need to create opportunities for students to share their experiences and feedback about the accommodations they are using. Encouraging and actively seeking this feedback will strengthen student engagement and ensure students have equitable opportunities to participate in all aspects of the college experience.
Looking Beyond Academic Access
The legal minimum, while perhaps legally sufficient, does not ensure deaf students have full access to the same experience as their peers, both in and out of the classroom, nor does it guarantee positive outcomes. To foster inclusive settings for all students to thrive that go beyond just being “good enough,” access must be viewed as a multifaceted framework that is part of the policies and practices at every level of the institution.
Navigating accommodations in medical or clinical internship settings
Medical or clinical internships are an important step in getting a higher education degree or post-graduation employment. For deaf students, navigating communication access in these settings is vital to achieving #DeafSuccess. In fact, how to best get this access is a frequent inquiry through our NDC | help team. Our team has gathered information and resources to assist in planning, coordinating, and collaborating with students and sites to ensure the best possible internship experience.
Role Models Have a Big Impact on #DeafSuccess
Deaf role models offer support from a place of shared understanding and life experience. With deaf role models, deaf youth are more likely to strengthen socioemotional skills, self-determination, language skills, and explore more options after high school. They can also serve as aspirational goals for deaf youth, who often don’t see people like themselves in certain careers or portrayed in the media.