CAT Innovation Lab

The NTID Center on Access Technology Innovation Laboratory ("CAT Lab"), a first-of-its-kind initiative, provides a place for students to get involved in the innovation process. The CAT Lab is located on the first floor of NTID's Lyndon B. Johnson building, bringing together faculty and associate degree-level deaf and hard-of-hearing students to collaborate on multidisciplinary projects related to developing and adapting access and instructional technologies, health care technologies and services, and more.

"Students who are involved in innovative projects develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills," says E. William Clymer, Interim Director of the Center on Access Technology. "Their experiences instill in them a passion for innovation. Ultimately these students become empowered to be more independent and to participate more fully in the benefits of our free market system."

Gary Behm, Director of the CAT Lab and an instructional/support member of the NTID Engineering Studies department, agrees, stating that "NTID has a vision of creating learning partnerships among students, faculty and external partners that will respond to future challenges and shape future opportunities with innovation. The CAT Lab holds a central place in this future."