Preview DeafTec Courses

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DeafTEC (Technological Education Center for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students), an NSF ATE Resource Center, provides resources to help faculty and employers educate and work with deaf and hard-of-hearing students (DHH) in STEM-related programs. These resources benefit ALL students and employees, not just those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

InnovATEBIO is excited to announce a unique opportunity to participate in a special “screening” of DeafTEC’s courses: Project Access (for Educators) and Working Together (for Employers). Similar to a movie screening where directors, producers, and actors discuss the film with the audience, these online courses will feature live webinars with the creators and curators. Our goal is to help strengthen bioscience training and employment pathways for diverse learners. Educators and employers will learn how to better engage with students and employees who are deaf or hard of hearing, speak English as a second language, and more. This information also benefits co-workers, HR business leaders, and other inclusion and diversity professionals.

Theresa Johnson, DeafTEC Associate Director with over 40 years of experience in rehabilitation and K-12/higher education, joins Donna Lange, Associate Professor and DeafTEC PI & Center Director, to discuss and review the modules as both courses run in parallel. This is an excellent opportunity for partnering educators and employers to learn together or independently.

For Educators: Project Access Online explores ways to optimize teaching in the classroom, provides real-life strategies, and offers extensive online resources to help faculty modify their teaching behaviors to provide greater access to learning for DHH students, which in turn benefits ALL students.

For Employers: The Working Together: Deaf & Hearing People online course is designed to help employers create an inclusive workplace environment for both DHH and hearing workers, encouraging effective communication and helping all employees realize their full potential. It is called Working Together because it focuses on fostering strong working relationships.

These courses are online and self-paced, running from February 11 to March 27, 2025.

Join us for an info session on Tuesday, January 21, from 9-10 am PST / 12-1 pm EST. We will discuss the courses, and registration information will be shared at this time. 

The timeline for this unique professional development opportunity includes:

• January 21 @ 9:00 am PST/ 12:00 pm EST – Info session with Theresa Johnson and Donna Lange to discuss this Project Access and Working Together professional development opportunity. 

• Working Together follow-up webinars conducted by DeafTEC and National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) Co-op and Career Center (NCCC)
  • February 11 @ 4:00 pm PST/ 7:00 pm EST to discuss/review modules 1 and 2 
  • February 25 @ 4:00 pm PST/ 7:00 pm EST to discuss/review modules 3, 4, and 5 

• Project Access follow-up webinars conducted by DeafTEC 
  • February 12 @ 12:00 pm PST/ 3:00 pm EST to discuss/review modules 1 and 2 
  • February 26 @ 12:00 pm PST/ 3:00 EST to discuss/review modules 3 and 4

• General planned webinars for all participants
  • March 6 @ 4:00 pm PST/ 7:00 pm EST - Student transition from college to employment
  • March 27 @ 4:00 pm PST/ 7:00 pm EST - Laboratory Safety