Career Exploration Series
Career Exploration
Series
Overview
The Career Exploration Series brings an exciting lineup of interactive virtual webinars tailored for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in grades 6-12. Each semester, we dive into unique career-related topics paired with engaging activities. You'll also discover which college majors can lead you to your dream career.
Upon registration, you'll receive a complimentary box filled with supplies and materials to enhance your webinar experience and continue your exploration afterward.*
Want to revisit past workshops? You can request web links and access in the next section of our website. If you have a specific topic in mind for a new webinar, simply email us at ntidoutreach@rit.edu to submit a request.
*Not all webinars include supplies and materials. Please contact us for more details.
Current Webinars
2025 - 2026 School Year
Upcoming Spring Webinars:
Deaf Brilliance: Stories That Shaped Our World
Joan Naturale
What is this webinar about?
This webinar introduces students to Deaf Studies resources, including InfoGuides, Deaf Studies Archives, and exhibits that highlight Deaf history, culture, and contributions.
What will students learn?
Students will learn how to access reliable information about Deaf people, history, art, theatre, poetry, and literature using academic and archival resources.
Why should students participate?
By exploring Deaf Studies materials, students can deepen their understanding of Deaf experiences and may discover new academic or personal interests.
What careers might this webinar lead to?
Careers in librarianship and library services, including academic, public, school, or special libraries, as well as library support roles that may not require an advanced degree.
Breaking Sound Barriers: Deaf Professional in Manufacturing
Sam Russotto
What is this webinar about?
This webinar introduces students to the world of Manufacturing Engineering, specifically within pharmaceutical and healthcare settings, and provides an overview of how this field supports the production of critical medical products.
What will students learn?
Students will learn how pharmaceutical and healthcare products, such as IV bags, are manufactured and gain insight into the role of a manufacturing engineer in ensuring quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. They will also explore the skills and mindset needed to succeed in this field.
Why should students participate?
Students should participate to better understand how manufacturing engineers combine hands-on problem solving, innovation, and teamwork to create and improve essential healthcare products.
What careers might this webinar lead to?
This webinar may lead to careers such as Manufacturing Engineer, Process Engineer, Automation Engineer, Validation Engineer, Quality Engineer, or Facilities and Equipment Engineer.
Follow Your Dreams and Become your Own Boss by Setting up Your Own Business!
Scot Atkins
What is this webinar about?
This webinar highlights Deaf business owners who transformed their ideas into successful ventures and shares their experiences in establishing and growing their own businesses.
What will students learn?
Students will learn foundational strategies for developing and refining a business idea for the future. Each participant will receive a workbook to guide their thinking, and the session will include discussion on how to use this resource to begin planning and pursuing their entrepreneurial goals.
Why should students participate?
Entrepreneurship is a meaningful career path that offers independence and the opportunity to shape your own professional future. This webinar encourages students to explore business ownership as a viable and empowering option.
What careers might this webinar lead to?
This webinar may inspire careers in entrepreneurship. Students can pursue business ownership in any field aligned with their interests, whether that involves opening a restaurant, launching a service-based company, or creating a product-driven enterprise.
Register for a Webinar Event
We're thrilled to announce new webinars (listed below) as they become available; designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in grades 6-12. Each session focuses on a unique and exciting topic, providing engaging experiences and valuable insights into various career paths. You can choose to register for one or all of the webinars.
Each webinar will take place on its scheduled date from 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET.
Recordings will be provided for people who cannot attend.
If you have questions about our webinars or would like to access our archives, please email us at NTIDOutreach@ntid.rit.edu.
Individual Student Registration
Click this button to register a deaf or hard-of-hearing student for a CES webinar. Do not individually register if the student's teacher is registering the whole class.
Teacher Registering a Group
If you are a teacher of a group of deaf/hard-of-hearing students: you do not need to individually register your students, and you should tell your students not to individually register themselves.
Instead, just send us a request to register your whole group. Include the webinar name and date, and a list of your students' full names, grade levels, and email addresses. Send to ntidoutreach@rit.edu and we will register your students for you.
Past Webinars
Missed a webinar or want to revisit a presentation?
All of our webinars are recorded. Just reach out to request access to past sessions.
Engineering Explorations: Unveiling Innovations
Trisha Gard-Thompson
What is this webinar about?
This webinar dives into what an engineer does every day. Curious about the different types of engineers out there? This webinar is a perfect fit for you!
What will students learn?
Student will learn how engineers apply skills like investigation, experimentation, and problem-solving to uncover revolutionary ideas and solutions that shape our world.
Why should students participate?
Students will delve into the exciting field of engineering and participate in hands-on activities that provide them with a chance to engage in a practical exploration of engineering.
What careers might this webinar lead to?
Mechanical engineer, civil engineer, and manufacturing.
Neuroscience: Your Amazing Brain
Rain Bosworth
What is this webinar about?
This webinar is all about the brain – how your cells work and how the brain functions. During this webinar, we’ll build a model of a brain together!
What will students learn?
Students will learn about neuroscience and brain anatomy using clay.
Why should students participate?
Students will receive a kit to build a brain model, and learn how the brain operates. As we build the brain model together, we understand the way our mind functions!
What careers might this webinar lead to?
Research assistant, neurologist, laboratory technician, scientist, psychologist, veterinarian, neurosurgeon, health educator, and psychiatrist.
Dynamic Teamwork
Greg Beattie
What is this webinar about? STEM professionals often work in collaborative and dynamic team environment to tackle complex problems and generate new ideas. Teamwork can be stressful and frustrating when people bring different ideas and perspective to the group.
What will students learn? Students will learn various strategies for effective communication and managing stress to improve collaboration in a dynamic team environment.
Why should students participate? Students will explore STEM careers in human-centered workplaces.
What careers might this webinar lead to? Computer Support Specialists, Medical Social Workers, Research and Development specialists, Psychologists.
Electrical Mechanical Engineering
DJ Monahan
What is this webinar about? A circuit is a closed loop where electrons travel. A circuit provides a source of electricity and allows our appliances to provide light or heat or mechanical energy.
What will students learn? How to use a circuit loop to make mechanical objects move around or light up. How to create a pathway for electricity to move and carry electricity.
Why should students participate? Students will explore mechanical engineering careers and learn how to use circuits to make electricity for their toy cars or robots.
What careers might this webinar lead to? Mechanical engineers, Machinery Manufacturing, Aerospace engineers, Robotics.
Environmental Science
Annemarie Ross
What is this webinar about? If you have seen fireflies during the summer, you might be wondering how they make their bodies glow at night. Chemiluminescence is a result of a chemical reaction that creates an emission of light.
What will students learn? How chemiluminescence can be used to detect air impurities or poisons in the air. How deep sea creatures and bacteria use bioluminescence to communicate. Chemiluminescence can be found everywhere around us, even in light sabers.
Why should students participate? Students will learn how to use their kit to create their own cool blue light through chemical reactions.
What careers might this webinar lead to? Chemists, Pharmaceutical specialists, Laboratory technicians, Biotechnologists.
The Science Behind Theater
Joe Hamilton
What is this webinar about? In theatre and performing arts, the stage is where the performance happen. Scenic technologies, like projectors and stage lights, help transform the scene from a blank canvas to an exciting adventure.
What will students learn? How to create an interactive theatre using optical technology. How math and science are used in staging productions. What does stagecraft mean?
Why should students participate? Students will be able to create their own projectors to transform their space or create large scale scenic backgrounds.
What careers might this webinar lead to? Stage and Production Managers, Technical Director, Light Technician, Production Assistant
Art and Museum Studies
Sarah McCormick
What is it about? Museums and art galleries are a critical part of preserving and displaying our cultural history. Art / Museum Curators are tasked with curating, designing, and arranging galleries.
What will students learn? Students will visit NTID’s Dyer Arts Gallery and learn about Dyer’s operations. What type of work is required to design and put up exhibits? Are curators more artists or event managers?
Why should they participate? Students will be tasked in groups to design and build a sculpture. Flex your creative muscles to create!
What careers might it lead to? Curators, Artists, Project Mangers, Event Managers
Forensic Science
Maya Penn
What is it about? We’ve all seen CSI and movie characters lift fingerprints off surfaces. Forensic science is the analysis of scientific evidence from crime scenes
What will students learn? What is the science behind human fingerprints, and why are no two fingerprints the same? How do forensic scientists work with fingerprints to solve crimes?
Why should they participate? Students will receive a fingerprinting kit, and will learn what the difference is between loops, whorls, and arches.
What careers might it lead to? Forensic Science, Fingerprint Analysis, Crime Scene Technicians, Laboratory Analysts
Architecture
Chris Brucker
What is it about? We are surrounded by buildings. Each and every one of those buildings holds an immense amount of weight- how do they not fall down!? Architecture is the art / science of designing buildings.
What will students learn? What is the process of designing a building? How do architects design blueprints? How do the world’s tallest buildings not fall down?
Why should they participate? Students will receive an architecture / engineering kit to assemble with guidance from our presenter.
What careers might it lead to? Architecture, Civil Engineering, CAD Technicians, Drafters, Surveyors
Innovation
Scot Atkins
What is it about? Look around your house and classroom. How many gadgets or cars are new in the past 20 years? Innovation is one of the cornerstones of our society, and pushes human advancement forwards.
What will students learn? How do innovators ‘innovate?’ How do you develop your short idea into a full-fledged business plan or pitch? Who are some successful Deaf / Hard-of-Hearing innovators?
Why should they participate? Are you considering joining RIT/NTID’s Next Big Idea Competition—High School version or do you aspire to start your own business? Students will receive a kit with relevant materials!
What careers might it lead to? Business, Sales, Management, Entrepreneurship, Marketing