Communication Access

The DRS is committed to ensuring that Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students can fully engage with their classes and co-curricular activities. The DRS offers a range of comprehensive support services tailored to meet the diverse needs of DHH students. These services are designed to remove barriers, promote inclusion, and provide equal access to educational opportunities, allowing DHH students to achieve their academic goals in a supportive and accessible environment.

ASL Interpreters 

DHH students can request American Sign Language interpreters for their classes, as well as submit specific requests for meetings and events outside the classroom. ASL interpreters facilitate communication between DHH students and their instructors, peers, and event speakers, ensuring that students can access and participate in all aspects of their academic and social experiences. The DRS also provides instructors with guidance on implementing ASL interpreting accommodations, including best practices for working with interpreters and creating an inclusive classroom environment. Interpreters are professionally trained and adhere to strict ethical standards, ensuring that communication is clear, accurate, and confidential.

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART)

DHH students can request CART, where a trained provider transcribes spoken words into text. The captioner may be in-person or remote. If in-person, the captioner will be present in the room with portable equipment. If remote, the student may provide the presenter with a microphone to wear, which will deliver the audio to an off-site captioner who will be transcribing what they hear. The student will view the transcribed material on a laptop or other device. This service ensures that DHH students can follow along with spoken content in real-time, enhancing their understanding and engagement. For some DHH students, CART is the preferred method of communication as it provides a direct and immediate way to access spoken information. CART services are particularly useful for students in lecture-heavy courses or those with fast-paced discussions, as it allows them to read what is being said almost instantaneously. The DRS also offers guidance to instructors on how to effectively integrate CART into their teaching, ensuring that the service is used to its fullest potential.

Captioned Media

The DRS requires that all media content (e.g., videos, podcasts, etc.) be accessible through the use of captioned videos and providing transcripts for audio files. This ensures that DHH students can fully understand and engage with all forms of media used in their coursework. To support this, the DRS provides comprehensive guidance on creating accessible media.

Glean Note Taking App 

The DRS offers the Glean note-taking app to DHH students. This app allows students to record lectures, highlight key points, and add notes directly to the recordings. The app also provides live captions of spoken words and transcripts of the recorded audio files. This app helps DHH students keep up with lectures and discussions by providing a written record they can refer back to, ensuring they don't miss important information.

Note Taking 

The DRS may assign a peer notetaker or hire a notetaker for DHH students, as it is challenging to take notes while simultaneously focusing on the ASL interpreter or the text displayed by CART. By providing reliable and accurate notes, the DRS helps DHH students stay organized and better prepared for their coursework.

Assistive Listening Devices

The DRS has a wide variety of assistive listening devices available and can check out a device to eligible students. These devices amplify sound and can be used in various settings, such as classrooms, meetings, and events, ensuring that DHH students can hear and participate effectively.