Applying to college. If I am deaf, what can I do? How can I get interpreters?

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Chimajo

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I am in high school. I want to apply to colleges like Gallaudet, RIT or some other colleges in different states.

If so, you can share your story.
 
Talk to those schools and see if they ever had deaf students enrolled there. Maybe even ask those schools to put you in touch with former deaf students and go from there.
 
contact the disabilities coordinator office, as they are the ones who will be providing/arranging for the accommodations you may need.
 
If it's a hearing school, make sure that the accommodations are as good as they say. Watch an interpreter in action in a classroom for another deaf student. Check the captioning to make sure it is word-for-word, and also includes the student discussions.

RIT/NTID, for example, does all this well.
 
As I was mainstreamed and don't sign (which I rather regret but whatevs), interpreters weren't an issue for me, but I did request accommodation for my dorm room. My alma mater was great on that issue, but I'll never forget the crap experience I had at FSU when visiting as a prospective freshman.

As for classroom accommodations, note-takers were available if desired (the OSD basically bribes someone in the class with some free bookstore money) and as UF has a pretty solid audiology department, when my HA went down freshman year, I had a great pair of loaners and saw the audiologists there free of charge. At least, I have no memory of paying for anything, except possibly new molds.

Here is what my alma mater offers for classroom accommodation:

Dean of Students Office UF

While each school organizes their sites differently, it's usually fairly intuitive. Simple way, do a google search for "Name of School disability services (or resources)" Some random pages for university accommodations:

Campus Disability Resource Directory | University of Michigan
Student Accessibility Services
Disability Resource Center - Main
Disabled Students' Program
Services for Students with Disabilities

If any of the schools you are interested in have a robust audiology program, there's a strong chance you'll have convenient/free access to good audiologists. Here's a list of the top programs in the country:

Best Audiology Programs | Top Health Schools | US News Best Graduate Schools
 
Go to rit . First go in ntid then cross register with rit. They will have everything you could ever need. Other colleges would be aware of the need to provide you with an interperter. However if you do go to a regular college I would wait to be accepted before asking for an interperter. Otherwise if they don't already provide interperters they can put your application in the round file
 
cdmeggers said:
contact the disabilities coordinator office, as they are the ones who will be providing/arranging for the accommodations you may need.
Click to expand...

This is all you need to know. I attended a very large University which, during the time of my enrollment, had only 6 Deaf students and 38,000 hearing students. They did just fine accommodating me with top-notch interpreters.
 
apart from checking out former students, interpreters competency, you really need to be clear to them (and to yourself -for defence incase they question your needs (which they shouldn't!!, and if they do , you have grounds for compliants)) just be very clear to them that you require interpreters, notetaker as they are your needs. Keep in mind, use word Needs, like you need them. I dont like the word, its makes us seem 'needy' but thats just today's conventional politics regarding disability- dont go there)..
so
do what others mentioned as above, but also be sure above al, be Really clear fro day one. and then it should go smoothly.
 
I agree with everyone else. I use terps at my college. I just went to Disabled Student Services. I have never had any issues getting terps. You should be fine. Congrats on college and good luck with your education!
 
Just go to service for students with disablities and talk to them about it, then they should get an interpreter for you. I wish you a good luck in college and education!
 
Have you looked into JSU in Alabama? I'm deaf, I go here and there are several other deaf and HH.. We get captionest or an interpreter for every class. Great school, many choices and lots of help and not expensive vs some colleges
-Rebecca
 
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