Gallaudet University presented at JHS for the first on Friday, Oct 4, 2024. It is one of two hard of hearing colleges in the United States.
Gallaudet is a place where deaf and hard of hearing people can get the support they need to become the best versions of themself. As much as colleges for all types of people are strived for, there are only two in the U.S. that are inclusive for hard of hearing people. .
“Gallaudet University is a place where deaf and hard of hearing students can call home,” Robin Peterson, ASL teacher, said.
In 1816, Laurent Clerc and Mason Cogswell had the idea to create the first school for deaf education in America. Alongside Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, they co-founded the first permanent institution for the education of deaf in North America in 1864, transforming their hopes into reality and helping hard of hearing students succeed in their future careers.
When schools offer sign language as a course, they are doing so much more than providing a letter grade. By teaching ASL, schools bring cultural awareness and understanding among students. There are no barriers to expression and kids can engage in an empathetic language.
“The opportunity to socialize with people from other backgrounds is something that our students frequently enjoy. This helps students discover their identity journey, their peer group, and shared experiences.” Sharon Castillo, Gallaudet University admissions officer, said.
Gallaudet is located in Washington D.C., meaning there are many things to do close to campus. You can visit the Smithsonian National Museum, Lincoln Memorial and so many other important locations.
“D.C has so many museums to choose from, with a lot of local restaurants and cafes that students love to go to,” Castillo said. “There are a lot of community events each weekend that celebrate various things.”
Students that do not live in D.C. but attend Gallaudet have many different means of transportation.
“We offer a free shuttle service that transports our employees and students to Union Station, a metro center, and back to Gallaudet University,” Castillo said. “To help students get to locations for significantly less money, we also give them discounts on their metro card.”
Interviewing is commonly used by most employers in order to get jobs. For hard of hearing people, that different sound barrier is an issue and makes it difficult for hard of hearing people to become employed. Gallaudet has a 90% internship placement, giving many people with hearing disabilities a leg up in their future careers.
“93% of recent graduates are employed full time or enrolled in graduate school,” Peterson said.
A Deaf Recruiter from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (N.T.I.D.) will be on campus Friday, December 13, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. N.T.I.D. is the other only deaf/hard of hearing college in the U.S. At N.T.I.D they also strive to take people with hearing disabilities where they want to go,
“No deaf and hard of hearing individuals should ever feel lonely and alone in the hearing community,“ Peterson said.
