NTID's 50th Anniversary history exhibit

The Grand Experiment

The title panel for the NTID History exhibit hosted in the Dyer Arts Center for NTID's 50th Anniversary celebration in 2018. The full text reads: 

During the 20th Century, expectations for being the ideal American was to become a hard-working and self-sufficient member of society. Sameness and integration were valued and deaf people were no exception. Barriers and attitudes towards deafness within mainstream society provided challenges to employment for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

NTID began as a "grand experiment" to see if a technical education and individualized attention would increase employment opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Over the course of 50 years, NTID's educational philosophy has gradually changed, as have the demographics of the people who educate deaf and hard-of-hearing students, as will be shown in the accompanying panels. The institutional goals for students, which are outlined in the next panel, have remained the same, but the students themselves have changed, desiring more autonomy and agency. Today, many alumni enjoy successful careers as leaders, advocates of their community, and innovators.

This exhibition will illustrate how attitudes toward deafness have changed and recognize how NTID alumni have served as representatives and drivers of that change.

Below are the photos featured on this panel. 

A student uses a VistaPhone--an early videophone--at NTID in the late 1960s. The RIT/NTID Deaf Studies Archive has two of these VistaPhones, which were used on a limited basis in LBJ Hall. A VistaPhone could only connect with another VistaPhone.

Three of the first deaf faculty members (l-r, Loy E. Golladay, Alice Beardsley, and Robert F. Panara) converse in 1975.

About Robert Panara, alum Kevin Nolan remembers: "During my first year, I used to hang out with the oral students and wouldn't use sign language; Bob Panara is the person who finally got me to start signing. From there, I helped found a theater group and haven't looked back."

Over the years, the number of deaf faculty and staff has grown considerably. By 2019, 153 faculty and staff at RIT/NTID identified as deaf or hard of hearing, or around 27% of the institution's full-time employees.

President Lyndon Baines Johnson signs the National Technical Institute for the Deaf Act into law outside the White House on June 8, 1965.

When ground was finally broken for the construction of what would become Lyndon Baines Johnson Hall, alumnus CJ Jones was present. He recalls: "Linda Nelson and I were Ms. and Mr. NTID. I remember how surprised I was to be selected, and it's a memory I cherish. It felt surreal to be there that day and to be on the 'front lines' of the event." 

He adds: "Being at NTID changed my life--it made me what I am today. The people around me at that time were a huge influence on me. Robert Panara was one of the 'greats' and his guidance and friendship was irreplaceable. My involvement in the theater program provided much growth and leadership and I wouldn't be who I am today without that." 

Pioneers of Innovation

NTID was founded to accomplish two primary goals: to offer technical training to young deaf and hard-of-hearing adults and to ensure job placement. A corollary goal was the education of deaf and hard-of-hearing students in interaction and assimilation in hearing-dominated workplaces; to this end, it was equally important that NTID be located within a larger, majority-hearing institution.

NTID's administration, faculty and staff were primarily composed of hearing people who recognized the ability of deaf and hard-of-hearing people to contribute to society, and worked tirelessly toward ensuring that those contributions were realized.

At the time, simultaneous communication (Sim-Com) was widely used. This form of communication was used so that students theoretically could benefit from lip-reading and learning English grammar. Classes were not limited to technical studies; lip-reading and speech classes were also offered. The administration felt that this would help NTID's students get jobs and sustain careers.

NTID students were in many ways considered pioneers. They used educational technologies that were available, and provided input for improvements. They created a deaf space by setting up the NTID Theatre program along with Robert Panara, a deaf faculty member. After graduation, some of them took jobs in government or industry, paving the way for future generations of deaf and hard-of-hearing workers.

In the early years, the Basic Interpreting Training Program (BITP) was also founded. Although hearing students had been recruited to live with deaf and hard-of-hearing students, learn how to sign, and interpret for their deaf counterparts, the more-formalized BITP was an early step toward the emphasis on communication access evident in NTID today--in both deaf- and hearing-majority classrooms.

Near the end of the 1980s, the Grand Experiment had largely become an established institution with entrenched ideals which would be challenged and refined by the next generation of students, setting the stage for changes to come.

A group of adults practice signing the letter 'R' in a classroom. From the very beginning, RIT/NTID pioneered direct communication in the classroom. Over the years, students who enrolled in classes with their hearing peers in other colleges within RIT have had the benefit of access services like interpreters, notetaking, and, later, captioning in their classrooms.

Alumnus Kevin Nolan remembers: "In my time, there weren't a lot of services provided for Deaf people, such as notetaking or captioning. When I entered a classroom for the first time, my mind was blown by [the idea of] an interpreter because all my life, I depended on lip-reading. I missed a lot of words and never felt comfortable asking teachers to repeat what they had said because they'd get annoyed if I did that. But with an interpreter present, I realized what a huge convenience it was."

An RIT/NTID faculty member signs to a student as they work together in a science lab.

The first 70 students who enrolled in NTID in 1968 stand together for a group photo.

Class member Kevin Nolan remembers: "I had mixed feelings about RIT when I first arrived. I came from Massachusetts, where you see older, more historic buildings and lots of trees. The campus was new and very modern at the time, so it was very wide open and strange-looking. I eventually got used to it, though!"

A student is shown undertaking an analytical process in a lab.

Long-time faculty member David Templeton explains that this now-obsolete process was used to analyze a blood sample. If you were a student in those earlier days, you may remember this process.

Back then, blood from a finger prick was placed into a capillary tube and then spun through a centrifuge. The red blood cells, being more dense than the white blood cells or plasma, settle to the bottom of the tube. Placing the tube on the scale, which the student here is doing, the percentage of packed red blood cells are determined by sliding the scale on the instrument after the various density levels are correctly aligned. All of these measures are done today by sophisticated instrumentation, not by hand.

Collective Advocacy

When the movement toward disability right [sic] appeared in national headlines, deaf and hard-of-hearing people began to see the work that needed to be done to ensure equity for themselves. Those headlines came about because of events like the Deaf President Now (DPN) protest movement at Gallaudet University and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in Congress. Those two major events shook the stereotypical perception of deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

The NTID Student Congress, which had been established in the early 1970s, became more active in asserting the rights of its constituents. RIT/NTID student leaders were actively involved with Deaf President Now, renting a bus that would allow RIT/NTID students to join their counterparts in Washington, DC, as well as leading their own protests in Rochester.

Between DPN and the passage of the ADA, deaf and hard-of-hearing faculty and staff at NTID gravitated toward the desire to recognize Deaf culture and to encourage an environment where deaf and hard-of-hearing people were viewed as equal. NTID's Deaf Cultural Studies courses emerged during this time. The Campaign for Accessibility Now movement coalesced in response to faculty and staff not signing in public spaces.

Around the same time, students began to explore identities other than deafness. This led to affinity organizations, such as Ebony Club and Latin American Deaf Club. This was a response to seeing the need for creating their own spaces outside of the mainstream organization. During this time, two deaf individuals came to lead the college. Dr. Robert Davila, who is Latino, became the first deaf Vice President of RIT for NTID. Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz, who is also deaf, succeeded him as Vice President and became NTID's first deaf President and Dean.

Gradually more and more deaf and hard-of-hearing faculty and staff were hired. While the focus on technical education and job placement remained strong, the students of RIT/NTID also became interested in strengthening their identities and developing other skills outside the classroom.

A group of unidentified students form a human barricade.

A news clipping from the March 12, 1988 edition of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle describes the journey made by RIT/NTID students to Washington, DC, to lend their support to Gallaudet students in their efforts to demand that the new Gallaudet president be a deaf or hard-of-hearing individual.

A scan of a page from RIT's Reporter Magazine detailing the Campaign for Accessibility Now by NTID students.

Two students sit on a couch and converse under a handwritten sign promoting Thursday meetings of the Ebony Club in LBJ Hall.

Carl Moore, adviser of Ebony Club from 1988-1994, explains some of his work as club adviser and as a career development counselor, clarifying the importance of Ebony Club in the lives of its members: "I would counsel or advise any individual or group of students on a wide variety of topics.  Anything from relationships (academic to personal) to academics and career goals, stress management to health in general. Being a student myself in the '70s meant that as adviser, I could see myself in all students too! I enjoyed being an adviser; in fact, I miss it..." 

Moore also fondly recalls moments from his time at NTID, when he was involved with panels, presentations, and many other events: "Best of all were the annual banquets for Ebony Club - especially the one in 1994, where I received an award recognizing my services as adviser. This award was very meaningful!"

Dr. Robert R. Davila, the first deaf and Latino leader of RIT/NTID. By the time he retired in 2003, Davila made his mark on NTID in a number of ways. One was securing the Dyer Arts Center, the world's largest art gallery devoted to exhibiting works by deaf artists, which continues to be an important part of NTID’s main building today. Davila also helped increase the number of minority students and employees, providing important role models for a diverse population of students.

Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz, was the first deaf president and dean of NTID. He started at NTID in 1970 as an educational specialist in RIT's College of Engineering, gradually holding increasingly prominent positions. He went on to lead NTID from 2004 to 2009. Regarding his time at NTID, Dr. Hurwitz remarks that for himself and his wife Vicki Hurwitz (who also taught at NTID) it was “…a tremendous journey for both of us at NTID.  It will always stay with us forever!”

A group of students including Diana Cho, Christina Harucki, and Chad Taylor, meet for a discussion at the College Grind, a former cafe on campus. 

Notes Cho: "When I look in retrospect at the many gems that I experienced while at Rochester Institute of Technology and that have contributed to help my growth, I have to say, that my era at RIT as both a student and a staff member was one wonderful, substantial existence for me. It helped pave the way for the greater quality of life that I am thankfully living now.”

Harucki mentions: "I met a lot of friends and was involved in many different clubs. I remember working as an RA for two years, worked random jobs, and joined Tri-Sigma. I also worked on Brick City committees and won a Chairperson of the Year Award. I definitely enjoyed my time at RIT/NTID and was blessed to receive so much access, support, and resources."

She advises current students: "Take your time as much as you can--only if you can! I wish I could have stayed for another year, but I rushed to graduate on time. I'm grateful for what I have right now, but I do encourage current students to take their time as much as they can. RIT/NTID is a unique place for deaf people to get together. If not for RIT/NTID, I wouldn't be where I am now." 

Agents of Change

Rapid technological change--including the rise of social media--enabled many positive shifts within the lives of deaf and hard-of-hearing people without depending on interpreters. The increased flexibility enabled more job opportunities and allowed deaf and hard-of-hearing people to become more self-sufficient.

Social media was a channel for increasing awareness about the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing people in every aspect of public life, from education to employment to services. This was a time of agency and empowerment for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, and RIT/NTID alumni and students were part of this exiting era. Social justice, diversity, inclusion, communication styles and access came to the forefront of discussions within the NTID community.

During this time, NTID hired increasing numbers of deaf and hard-of-hearing people in administrative roles. Dr. Gerard Buckley became the first deaf or hard-of-hearing alumnus to lead NTID. Three deaf and hard-of-hearing students were elected president of RIT's Student Government Association. A deaf student became the captain of the RIT men's baseball team, continuing a tradition of deaf and hard-of-hearing leadership dating back to John Reid's '70s-era captaincy of the wrestling team. RIT/NTID alumni became President of the National Association of the Deaf, engineers for Microsoft, leaders in deaf education overseas, and more.

The Center on Access Technology, a research center focusing on accessibility in education, was established and led in large part by deaf and hard-of-hearing engineers. Many RIT/NTID students worked on technology to increase accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. More alumni started new businesses or became business leaders. The Next Big Idea, a program that encouraged RIT/NTID students to create a business plan and compete to sell their ideas, was established, providing the winners with seed money for their businesses.

Three students work together in a science lab.

Three students in motion-capture suits pose for the camera in a lab in March 2018.

Truc, shown on the left, recalls: "We wanted to combine history and stories with video games. We had to start with creaing storyboards all over the wall [in the lab] at Rosica, and we had four people working on developing 3D designs, which took a very long time. Then finally, the motion capture suits came in and they were linked to the 3D animations so whenever we moved in the suits, the animation would do the same on the computer.

"There were 49 sensors all over your body, and you had to put them in the right place every single time before you could proceed with acting. We couldn't be off with the sensors, because if one sensor was out of place the whole animation would be out of whack, and you'd have an arm sticking out of the other side of your body!

"[When the photo was taken,] I had no idea the exhibition was actually taking place that day! We were told that there were visitors coming into the lab because it was the 50th Anniversary Reunion, so I went right to getting things together for the event. There wasn't a lot of prep time, but I went for it and it was a great turnout. The 50th snuck up on me! So we jumped into our motion capture suits and showed everyone our work.

"One of the funnier memories I have about working in the Motion Lab is probably the suits. One size doesn't always fit all, so if a new person put them on, we always had to make sure the suits were set up right. It always cracked me up when the sensors weren't connecting properly and the 3D animations were completely out of whack and the body is all twisted up. Everyone goes, 'WHAT‽' It makes me laugh to remember those moments."

John T. Reid, the first deaf captain of RIT's wrestling team in the 1970s, poses in a stance for the camera.

Reflecting on his wresting experience, Reid says, “After two years of varsity wrestling in high school, I set my goal to continue wrestling in college. Earl Fuller (wrestling coach and RIT Sports Hall of Fame inductee) was a huge influence on me by teaching the foundations of wrestling and weight control that I didn’t learn earlier.”

After becoming one of the top wrestlers in the athletic conference, Reid qualified for the NCAA wrestling championship and became the first deaf team captain his final year. He was also the only deaf wrestler spending at least 4 years on the team in the 1970s.   

“It was a rewarding experience for me," says Reid. "Coach Fuller later encouraged me to stay on the team as his assistant coach and I spent nearly 5 more years there. Coach was also an influence behind my induction in the RIT Sports Hall of Fame. As a result, I became the first deaf inductee. My sincerest appreciation goes to Coach Earl Fuller for his significant impact on my wrestling career. This opened the doors to other deaf athletes into the RIT Sports Hall of Fame.”

Sean "Skip" Flanagan, first deaf captain of RIT's men's baseball team, stands on the diamond. This photo was taken during Flanagan's sophomore year, during a game against SUNY Brockport. Dylan Heuer (who is also deaf) was the photographer working with the athletic department at the time.

Flanagan remembers this game being one of the coldest games he ever played in; when the bus pulled up, the team saw snow coming down, and Flanagan recalls the coach's response: "It's not raining...so let's play ball!"  Flanagan also vividly recalls stealing two bases in this particular game.

The coach, RD Long (who was Derek Jeter's roommate in college), was notorious for telling Flanagan to be more aggressive on the base paths, even though he wasn't the fastest on the team. “So I decided to gun it and ended up getting two stolen bases,” said Flanagan, clinching the game for the RIT Tigers.

Greg Pollock, the first deaf RIT Student Government Association president to be elected twice.

Pollock looks back on that day: "I remember it as if it were yesterday; the goosebumps, the starry eyes, and the infinite possibilities. The room buzzed with the vibrant energy of thousands of graduates who, in that moment, shared a fleeting joy that would forever define their lives.

"There were dreams. There were tears. And before me were the innovators, the artists, the most talented minds of modern trades... and it was the privilege of a lifetime to bid them farewell.”

A Shining Beacon

The political, social, technological, and cultural shifts of the American landscape have strongly influenced RIT/NTID over the decades. People's attitudes towards deafness in the early years ensured that institutional goals were limited to helping deaf and hard-of-hearing people get jobs and contribute to society. Those were goals that paved the way for deaf people to receive the education and services they needed in a society that still did not know how to respond to people with disabilities.

However, in the intervening years, various movements, legislation, and technological advancements have shifted social attitudes. In response to that shift, RIT/NTID propelled students to become agents of change in various ways. RIT/NTID has become a deaf culture space for students with various communication styles and preferences. RIT/NTID alumni from all around the world acknowledge that NTID has made a lasting impact on their lives.

While NTID has greatly benefited from being one of the colleges of RIT, RIT has also benefited from NTID's presence. The uniqueness of NTID as a college has helped put RIT on the map, becoming a highly desired university by people all over the world. NTID faculty, staff, and students have shared technological innovations, teaching experience, accessibility for all students, and more with the campus.

A sampling of alumni leaders of NTID; (l-r) Dr. Gerard J. Buckley, president of NTID; Gary Behm, associate vice president for academic affairs; Stephanie Smith Albert, NTID's first director of diversity and inclusion; M. Tim Albert, director of the Student Life Team; Mary Karol Matchett, assistant vice president for student and academic services.

Dr. Gerard Buckley, NTID president, poses with a group of students at the Latin American Deaf Club table during the 2016 Apple Festival.

Ariana Rivas Lampe, who was LADC President (in the flowered crown), and Jonathan Roman, the LADC Vice President (in blue glasses), remember that day well. They remarked that their time as leaders of the club provided personal growth, leadership opportunity, and a lot of fun.

The LADC was considered “family” and everyone worked together to provide support towards the club goals. Lampe and Roman both have fond memories of that time, and have stayed in touch with fellow alumni since graduation.

A group of deaf and hard-of-hearing high schoolers from around the country attend a talk given by Sarah Bauman-Sarchet during the Health Care Careers Exploration Camp on campus.

According to Bauman-Sarchet, the students were doing an urinalysis experiment, examining urine samples through a microscope for various disease cells.

Bauman-Sarchet adds: "This photo shows an old lab classroom. It doesn't look like that anymore because our classrooms were renovated, increasing storage and ASL accessibility. One of the cool things about the Health Care Careers Exploration Program was that students got to experience doing lab work at NTID and at the College of Health Sciences and Technology at RIT. For example, students could do experiments relating to laboratory safety training at NTID, and meanwhile, they'd get to experience doing suturing or stitching at RIT." 

An exterior shot of Lyndon Baines Johnson Hall just after sunset. LBJ Hall is the main NTID building, and the entrance remains an iconic symbol of the school.  Every student that enters its front doors will fondly remember Carl Zollo's "Split Cube" sculpture at the entrance. 

Alumnus Julian Moiwai poses next to a soccer net. 

He reflects: "Looking back, I really appreciated the connections I’ve made with people on campus. Not only just students, but the faculty, staff, and other people I met in Rochester. Those connections made me value future connections. I didn’t realize how lifelong connections can happen in the simplest way, just by crossing paths with someone. NTID inspired me to stay connected throughout life. I really appreciate the connections we made, and the value of working hard, preserving the culture here, and that Tiger pride.

"I've had many 'families'--the RIT Men's Soccer family, the NTID Admissions Office, and the Department of Communications in the College of Liberal Arts. If I had to pick one person that really inspired me, it would be Dr. Keith Jenkins, he was a communications professor at the time when I was there. He’s now the VP of Diversity and Inclusion. He was unbelievable. I looked up to him. A black professor on campus, always dressed sharp everyday, and that kind of energy he brings to class…wow.

"Another 'family' would be the Student Life Team, especially Eyob Zerayesus. He was my program coordinator. I worked with him my second year. I went through a lot that year; taking on leadership roles, a big college break up, and everything in between. And Eyob was there to support me personally and professionally. He was also a deaf black man. He taught me to keep moving forward, putting one foot in front of another."

American Sign Language and Intepreting Education program graduate Lydia Callis. 

"Rochester, including RIT/NTID, has a unique Deaf community," says Callis. "Due to the diversity of so many things, like race, culture, hearing status, and deaf people (including those who are oral and those who sign). Before I moved to Rochester, I didn't really understand what the Deaf community was all about, even though I grew up in a Deaf family--I just had a basic understanding. Then when I came here, I learned what it REALLY meant to be part of the community. Nowhere else gives you that opportunity."

Giving to the Museum

The NTID Alumni Museum will recognize our rich history and the integral role of alumni in forging the success of this "Grand Experiment." The space will convey the NTID story, highlighting the vital roles alumni, faculty, staff and students have played in shaping the Institute we enjoy today.

In addition to a first floor conference room, museum plans include a variety of displays located throughout the second floor of LBJ Hall that showcase NTID history, [and] memorabilia and build pride among members of the NTID family. While this current exhibition is temporary, the text panels are a sneak peek into what the museum can become.

Over time, more concrete museum plans will become available, such as renderings of the museum space, and future exhibitions about NTID's history.

Donors to the Alumni Museum will be recognized on its donor wall. Gifting levels include:

• $10,000 payable over three years
• $5,000 payable over three years
• $1,500 payable over two years

Exhibit naming opportunities also exist with gifts ranging from $15,000-$25,000.

Show your support by donating to this historical project by going to www.rit.edu/giving/NTIDMuseum. Write "NTID Alumni Museum" in the gift designation field.

A view of the second floor of NTID's Lyndon Baines Johnson Hall. Currently a printed timeline is mounted in this area; in the future, the new NTID Alumni Museum will be located here.