Telecommunications for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children: Educating the Schools

Abstract

In just the past five years, technology and policy have worked together to completely change the world of telecommunications for all of us, but particularly for deaf and hard of hearing people who had been barred from full access since the telephone network was established. Unfortunately, deaf and hard of hearing children are not being exposed to what is possible. Schools are not ready for this new world of communication capacity. Two very different communities are developing: an enriched communication environment of deaf and hard of hearing adults, and an impoverished environment of deaf and hard of hearing children. Gallaudet University is currently conducting a project to transfer much of this technology to schools that educate deaf and hard of hearing children. The Technology Assessment Program of Gallaudet is working with five day and residential schools to provide telecommunications workstations, software customized for this application, a curriculum, training of personnel, and materials so that educators can employ telecommunications technology in a variety of ways.