Title
NTID History panel 2: Collective Advocacy
Subject
An increasing emphasis on self-advocacy and disability rights.
Description
Content: 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.
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.
Creator
Dyer Arts Center
Publisher
Dyer Arts Center