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Grant, collaboration aid students | The News-Messenger | thenews-messenger.com
Thanks to a grant and a cooperative agreement with the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, Terra Community College has made it easier for deaf and hearing-impaired students to communicate.
Three Ubi-Duo communication systems have been bought through an assistive technologies grant from the Ohio Board of Regents and the Rehabilitation Services Commission. The units will allow students who are deaf or hard of hearing to communicate instantly with anyone without the need of a third party.
Two of these units will remain on campus to be used by the Office of Disability Services during advising sessions. This equipment will also be available to other departments or academic divisional offices. The third unit was donated to the Sandusky County Office of the ORSC.
"The Ubi-Duo allows our students to communicate clearly and independently, make phone calls, participate in group discussions, take notes and print, all without help from an aide or interpreter," said Kimberly Williams, coordinator of disability services and academic improvement.
Ron Huss, vocational rehabilitation counselor, agrees that the use of the Ubi-Duo will help people with disabilities as they transition to work or higher education. And communication is a key factor in learning.
"The Ubi-Duo Face-to-Face Communicator will provide the means necessary to allow greater accessibility in the learning process for those individuals with significant communication, learning, hearing and speech disabilities," he said. "In other words, this mechanism provides a means of overcoming these significant barriers by leveling the field of play providing the accessibility needed to communicate, understand, express, comprehend and learn the information being presented."
Not only has the agreement resulted in the purchase of the Ubi-Duo units, it has also provided more money for counseling and for testing to determine disabilities.
"It improved collaborative efforts and communication between ORSC and Terra's Office of Disability Services, which allows us to more comprehensively serve our students," Williams said. "The grant made it possible for us to provide extended services as well as specialized technology to our students. We are very happy to have this opportunity and look forward to further ORSC collaborations in the future."
Huss also sees great value in working with Terra.
"In working together, ORSC and Terra identified a true need and a means of accessibility to allow those with significant disabilities to be able to open the door to learn more effectively, efficiently and to prepare for the competitive job market," Huss said. "Many people focus on the disability instead of an individual's true abilities and what they have to offer."
Many accommodations for individuals with disabilities aren't expensive, but rather call for a common-sense approach, Huss said.
"We have employers who have benefited from some of the ergonomic/accessible accommodations that end up serving all employees, able body or disabled," he said. "A win-win situation for all."
Thanks to a grant and a cooperative agreement with the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, Terra Community College has made it easier for deaf and hearing-impaired students to communicate.
Three Ubi-Duo communication systems have been bought through an assistive technologies grant from the Ohio Board of Regents and the Rehabilitation Services Commission. The units will allow students who are deaf or hard of hearing to communicate instantly with anyone without the need of a third party.
Two of these units will remain on campus to be used by the Office of Disability Services during advising sessions. This equipment will also be available to other departments or academic divisional offices. The third unit was donated to the Sandusky County Office of the ORSC.
"The Ubi-Duo allows our students to communicate clearly and independently, make phone calls, participate in group discussions, take notes and print, all without help from an aide or interpreter," said Kimberly Williams, coordinator of disability services and academic improvement.
Ron Huss, vocational rehabilitation counselor, agrees that the use of the Ubi-Duo will help people with disabilities as they transition to work or higher education. And communication is a key factor in learning.
"The Ubi-Duo Face-to-Face Communicator will provide the means necessary to allow greater accessibility in the learning process for those individuals with significant communication, learning, hearing and speech disabilities," he said. "In other words, this mechanism provides a means of overcoming these significant barriers by leveling the field of play providing the accessibility needed to communicate, understand, express, comprehend and learn the information being presented."
Not only has the agreement resulted in the purchase of the Ubi-Duo units, it has also provided more money for counseling and for testing to determine disabilities.
"It improved collaborative efforts and communication between ORSC and Terra's Office of Disability Services, which allows us to more comprehensively serve our students," Williams said. "The grant made it possible for us to provide extended services as well as specialized technology to our students. We are very happy to have this opportunity and look forward to further ORSC collaborations in the future."
Huss also sees great value in working with Terra.
"In working together, ORSC and Terra identified a true need and a means of accessibility to allow those with significant disabilities to be able to open the door to learn more effectively, efficiently and to prepare for the competitive job market," Huss said. "Many people focus on the disability instead of an individual's true abilities and what they have to offer."
Many accommodations for individuals with disabilities aren't expensive, but rather call for a common-sense approach, Huss said.
"We have employers who have benefited from some of the ergonomic/accessible accommodations that end up serving all employees, able body or disabled," he said. "A win-win situation for all."