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Disabilities
Page 2 of 10

1. Introduction
2. Deaf/Hard of Hearing
3. Speech Impairment
4. Blind/Low Vision
5. Learning Disability
6. Mobility Impairment
7. Seizure Disorder
8. Section 508
9. Legal Rulings
10. Resources

Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

The major challenge facing individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing is communication. Lip-reading, which is used by 10% of individuals who are deaf or are hard of hearing, can be misunderstood since only about 25% of spoken English words are clearly identifiable when lip-reading. Amplification of background noises by a hearing aid can distract and hinder understanding of verbal communication. This is particularly important to remember, when individuals who use a hearing aid are on-site for oral lectures, lab instruction, or exams. Without captioning or a transcript for resources with video and/or audio, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing are denied access to the information conveyed. Furthermore, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may encounter incompatible programs or devices that do not work with various assistive listening devices.

Sign Language

Most individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may rely on sign language or using sign language interpreters to facilitate communication (see Image 1). There are several types of sign language but the most commonly used is American Sign Language (ASL). ASL is not based on English; rather, it has its own syntax, grammar and vocabulary. As a result, some individuals who use ASL as their primary language experience difficulties when writing in English. Also, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, especially if acquired at birth or an early age, often have speech impairments due to the inability to hear their own voice clearly.

TTY and Relay Services

Communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can be facilitated through the use of Telephone Relay Services (TRS) and a teletypewriter (TTY) (see Image 2). Telephone Relay Services (TRS) operate in all 50 States and can be accessed by dialing 711. The general process of using a TRS involves:

1. Trained telephone company employee, generally called a Communication Assistant, types the spoken words of a person using a telephone into a TTY.
2. The words are then transmitted over the telephone line to the person who is deaf or hard of hearing.
3. Using their own TTY, the person who is deaf or hard of hearing responds.
4. The Communication Assistant voices that response to the person using the telephone.

A TTY may be referred to as a text telephone, telephone typewriter, or even as a TDD, which means telecommunication display device or telecommunication device for deaf persons.

Other ways to facilitate communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing could involve using:

• Assistive listening systems (see Image 4).
• Electronic communications such as email, chat software, and bulletin boards.
• Visual cue (i.e. flashing signals) or text equivalent for audio material.

Captioning

Whenever video, television programs, video conferences, and/or teleconferences are part of the distance education program, captioning or a transcript must be provided to facilitate access for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. There are several different types of captioning:

• Closed Captioning (CC) is visible text turned on and only seen at the discretion of the viewer (see Image 5).
• Open Captioning (OC) is visible text that always appears for all viewers (see Image 6).
• Real-time captioning is the simultaneous preparation and transmission of captions at the time of origination by highly-skilled captionists using specialized stenotype software and equipment.

The next page will present information about individuals with speech impairments.

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Georgia Tech Research on Accessible Distance Education (GRADE)
Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA)
Georgia Institute of Technology (GT) College of Architecture (COA)
Email: gradeproject@coa.gatech.edu Fax: 404-894-9320 Phone: 404-894-4960 (v/tty)

Accessibility User Agreement
Developed in collaboration with IDET Communication (IDET).
Funded by the Office of Post Secondary Education (OPE) under Grant #P333A020050.
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