Mallory, James and Anderson Lee. "Expanding Tech Talent Empowering Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students." NDEAM 2025 - 80th Anniversary Celebration and Conference. Gateway Technical College. Racine, Wisconsin. 14 Oct. 2025. Keynote Speech. ∆
This presentation highlights a collaborative initiative between CompTIA and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology to strengthen career outcomes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals entering technology fields. The program integrates pre-employment support, technical bootcamp training, certification preparation, and direct placement into entry-level IT and technical roles. Key strategies include resume and LinkedIn development, mock interviews, and direct engagement with employer partners to address misconceptions about DHH employees. The project identifies persistent challenges such as employer hesitancy and lack of successful workplace examples while demonstrating effective solutions through pipeline development, targeted training, and sustained partnerships among educational institutions, workforce agencies, and employers. Early results reveal growing acceptance and enthusiasm among companies once exposed to qualified DHH candidates. This model offers a scalable framework for building inclusive, skilled, and loyal technology workforces nationwide.