AUSTIN, Texas — Parents and educators can make online learning accessible for deaf and hard of hearing students during the COVID-19 pandemic with new online resources from the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes at the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin.

WHERE: Online: nationaldeafcenter.org/covid19

For regularly updated information and resources in response to COVID-19, visit: nationaldeafcenter.org/covid19

As schools across the country transition to online courses in response to COVID-19, educators are working to ensure students receive the same quality education they received in the classroom. For deaf students, this means all course content must be accessible and equitable.

A deaf student learned about a deaf adult living a dream they thought was impossible. A student organization founded at a college is connecting deaf students on campus. New summer programs are helping deaf youth connect with mentors, and thousands of deaf high schoolers across the country are learning how to advocate for themselves in a fun way.

Veteran’s Day reminds Americans to be grateful to every person who has worn a military uniform and fought for our safety and security. We also should be reminded of our responsibility to create opportunity for the more than 37,000 deaf veterans enrolled as students in colleges and universities throughout the United States. 

How do U.S. universities rank with deaf students? According to a nationwide survey of deaf college students last spring:

One of the more challenging aspects for a deaf individual while seeking employment is knowing when, and how, to disclose their disability to an employer. Navigating disclosure of a disability for employment purposes is a personal decision. Deaf individuals may find the disclosure process to be challenging because they may encounter employers who are unaware of laws or accommodations, or the deaf individuals may not have the self-advocacy skills to navigate the job search process.

A recent article published in Raising and Educating Deaf Children by NDC’s director of operations, Tia Ivanko, outlines in clear, brief language why NDC does what it does. The article, titled “Pathways to Success After High School for Deaf Students,” describes what we know about deaf student success and the implications for improving access for deaf students.

Unemployment in the United States recently hit a 49-year low. However, the strong U.S. labor market is passing by millions of deaf Americans.