Spring / Summer 2013 - Rochester Institute of Technology

Effective Access Technology at RIT
Effective Access Technology at RIT
Many people must live every day with a variety of physical and mental challenges.
Over one billion people, or approximately 15 percent of the world’s population, live
with some form of a disability. At Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), we know
that when barriers to inclusion are removed and persons with disabilities are
empowered to participate fully in society, our entire community benefits.
RIT is Not New to Access Technology: In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson signed the National
Technical Institute for the Deaf Act to provide deaf and hard-of-hearing students with outstanding
technical and professional education programs, complemented by a strong sciences curriculum, that
prepares them to live and work in the mainstream of a rapidly changing global community. NTID at RIT
has introduced and deployed innovative access technology for the deaf community ever since then.
Technology Provides Leverage
Societal participation can be especially
difficult for those among us who are
confronted by multiple disabilities
(deafness and cognitive challenges,
blindness and mobility issues, etc.).
Unfortunately, these instances of multiple
challenges are increasingly frequent
among our growing elderly and veteran
populations. Over the past five years,
we have seen a 39-percent increase
in the total number of veterans living
with service-related disabilities and
a dramatic 100-percent increase
in veterans with a 70- to 100-percent
disability rating.
The good news is that this is the
best time imaginable for people with
disabilities and/or special needs to
take advantage of new technology
for connection and independence.
Researchers at Rochester Institute of
Technology are developing a significant
number of new types of technologies—
or have adapted existing technologies—
to improve access for persons with
disabilities. From advanced robotics
to new technologies for hearing or
visual impairment to the use of social
and interactive media, researchers are
developing remarkable new ways for
people to connect.
RIT values its tradition of developing
assistive and adaptive technology and
working with our community to serve
those with disabilities and special needs.
One of the best examples is RIT’s National
Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID).
Formally established in 1965 through an
Act of Congress, NTID began operation
in 1967 and is currently one of the most
accessible education communities in
the world for deaf and hard-of-hearing
students. NTID’s long and rich history
of innovations for the deaf and hearingimpaired
community is unparalleled.
The NTID-created speech-to-text
system is used all over the world to
provide communication access to
individuals who are deaf. This tradition
continues with RIT/NTID’s recent award
of a $1.75 million grant from the William
G. McGowan Charitable Fund as the lead
investment in the construction of the new
Sebastian and Lenore Rosica Hall. This
first-of-its-kind facility will engage deaf
and hard-of-hearing students and their
hearing peers, along with faculty and
corporate partners, in the innovation
process.
RIT is proud of our longstanding
commitment to supporting our wounded
service members. For over 50 years,
RIT’s Veteran Services Office has been
dedicated to supporting and advocating
for active-duty military, veterans, and
their dependents. RIT is proud to partner
with the U.S. Department of Veteran
Affairs in the “Yellow Ribbon” program
and “Servicemembers Opportunity
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Spring/Summer 2013 Report