A review of mentoring deaf and hard-of-hearing scholars |
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| Authors: | Matthew A Lynn Elizabeth Butcher Jessica A Cuculick Steven Barnett Camille A Martina Scott R Smith |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Science and Mathematics, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester , NY, USA malntm@rit.edu;3. Access Services, University of Rochester School of Medicine &4. Dentistry, Rochester , NY, USA;5. Center on Cognition and Language, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester , NY, USA;6. Departments of Family Medicine, Public Health Sciences and the National Center for Deaf Health Research, University of Rochester School of Medicine &7. Departments of Public Health Sciences and Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine &8. Office of the Associate Dean of Research, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester , NY, USA |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT Diversification of the scientific workforce usually focuses on recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities but often overlooks deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) persons. Usually classified as a disability group, such persons are often members of their own sociocultural linguistic minority and deserve unique support. For them, access to technical and social information is often hindered by communication- and/or language-centered barriers, but securing and using communication access services is just a start. Critical aspects of training D/HH scientists as part of a diversified workforce necessitates: (a) educating hearing persons in cross-cultural dynamics pertaining to deafness, sign language, and Deaf culture; (b) ensuring access to formal and incidental information to support development of professional soft skills; and (c) understanding that institutional infrastructure change may be necessary to ensure success. Mentorship and training programs that implement these criteria are now creating a new generation of D/HH scientists. |
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| Keywords: | American sign language communication accessibility deaf and hard-of-hearing persons designated interpreter faculty and student diversity workforce diversity |
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