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SERVICES FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS
The National Technical Institute for the Deaf, one of RIT’s colleges, provides access and support services for eligible students.
The Department of Access Services provides real-time access to classes and co-curricular activities through sign language interpreting
and real-time captioning services. Notetaking services are also
provided by the Department. NTID faculty housed within the colleges of RIT bring special expertise to working with deaf and hard-of-hearing
students, providing instruction, tutoring, advising and personal and career counseling. The NTID Department of Communication Studies and
Services provides a variety of communication services including assistive listening systems, support for cochlear implant users, and
speech therapy. The Department of American Sign Language and Interpreting Education provides support for learning sign language. The
services provided by NTID support the largest mainstreamed college program for students who are deaf in the world. Please contact the
Office of the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for additional information.
DEPARTMENT OF ACCESS SERVICES
The Department of Access Services facilitates communication between hearing, deaf, and hard of hearing members of the RIT community.
Communication access needs are routinely addressed through sign language interpreting, real-time captioning, and notetaking. More
specialized services are provided to meet individual needs as necessary. The largest provider of access services in an academic setting
in the world, Access Services provides over 200,000 hours of service annually. The majority of the service is delivered to RIT courses.
Access services may be requested on-line through http://myAccess.rit.edu by any member of the RIT
community. In addition to service to courses, RIT sponsored activities such as athletics, student clubs, governance groups, lectures and
speakers, are provided thousands of hours of service annually. Early planning and special publicity requesting responses regarding the
need for access services ensure appropriate use of resources and the success of your event.
Real-time captioning facilitates communication for deaf/hard of hearing people by converting speech to English text. Real-time captioning
is almost always provided by C-Print, a system invented and in continuing development at RIT/NTID. Captions are displayed on NTID provided
laptop computers brought to class by the captionists. In some larger venues, captions are displayed through large screen video
projection. Real-time captioning services are available for non-classroom events on a limited basis as needed.
Notetaking is provided for students in classes. Trained student notetakers are hired to take notes. The notes are scanned into a secure
server from which they can be viewed, downloaded, and printed by students who have requested and approved to receive them while in the
course. Notes from current and prior quarters are available to instructors and support faculty tutors through the website:
http://myAccess.rit.edu.
Please consult Access Services early in the planning stages of an event to maximize the possibility of obtaining interpreters. The best
way to make, modify or track service requests is on-line at our website http://myAccess.rit.edu.
Learn more about Access Services and see tips and additional links on how to make most effective use of Access Services at the departments' website, www.ntid.rit.edu/das.
If service breakdowns occur, our scheduling staff may be reached at 475-6281 or via text messaging through IM username
“NTIDAccess” between 7:30 a.m and 9:00 p.m.
Contacts within Access Services useful for planning or consultation are:
Contacts/Coordinators:
Real-time Captioning (C-Print)
CAST/Business/GCCIS
Student Activities and Human Development
Liberal Arts
RIT Program & Services
Imaging Arts & Science
Physical Education & Athletics
Science & Engineering
Residence Life & Judicial
NTID SUPPORT OFFICES FOR THE DEAF or HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS
NTID faculty and staff trained to work with deaf/hard of hearing students are located in the various colleges of RIT to support deaf/hard
of hearing students taking courses in those colleges. The major components of the services provided include the tutoring and advising.
Tutoring:
Each college at RIT has unique tutorial arrangements with NTID. Tutors have the ability to communicate with deaf/hard of hearing students
as well as knowledge of course content. Most NTID faculty have a master's degree in their content area and many have earned doctoral
degrees. NTID faculty provide instruction that clarifies information and concepts previously taught in class. This instruction may be
individual or take place in small groups. NTID faculty work closely with the deaf/hard of hearing student's professors, department chair
and dean's office to assist the student in achieving the educational objectives. A major goal of tutoring is helping deaf/hard of hearing
students improve their study skills so that they become independent learners. In some situations student tutors are also used.
Academic Advising:
All baccalaureate students are assigned to a NTID faculty member for advising. The NTID faculty advisors help the students plan their
class schedules and select courses each quarter. They are also available to answer questions and provide advice about a student's major
and career goals. NTID faculty advisors work cooperatively with the students' academic advisors in their colleges.
NTID Support Offices:
Arts and Imaging Studies
Business Studies Support
Engineering Studies Support
Information & Computing Technology Support
Liberal Studies Support
Science/Engineering Support
Please contact the support offices above for more information and if you have any questions.
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