Title
NTID History title panel: The Grand Experiment
Subject
Introduction to the 50th Anniversary NTID history exhibit.
Description
Content: 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.
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.
Source
Dyer Arts Center
Publisher
Dyer Arts Center