Deaf Initiative in Information Technology (DIIT)

该项目为信息技术领域的聋人和重听成年人提供再培训讲习班，将这些讲习班合并为证书课程，并将讲习班改为本科课程。国家迫切需要接受信息技术培训的个人并不断提升其技能。聋人和听力障碍的IT专业人员很难获得满足其沟通和学习方式需要的培训和技能发展，即使有口译员。赞助机构是一所为聋人和听力障碍学生开设的两年制技术学院。它的建立是为了扭转我国聋人和重听公民长期就业不足和失业的历史。该项目为整个学院的专业发展提供资金。这段时间用于提高信息技术技能，制定课程，并为已经在国家劳动力队伍中或准备从事信息技术工作的聋人和重听成年人举办信息技术讲习班。该项目建立了一个新的计算机实验室，以支持研讨会活动，并允许教师将新的信息技术材料纳入全日制本科课程。

This project provides retraining workshops to deaf and hard-of-hearing adults in the information technology (IT) field, clusters these workshops into a certificate program, and modifies the workshops into undergraduate courses. A critical national need exists for individuals trained in IT and for constant upgrading of their skills. Deaf and hard-of-hearing IT professionals have difficulty in obtaining training and skills development that meets their communication and learning style needs, even with an interpreter.The sponsoring institution is a two-year technical college for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. It was established to reverse the long history of underemployment and unemployment among our nation's deaf and hard-of-hearing citizens. The project provides funds for professional development for the entire faculty. This time is used to enhance IT skills, develop curricula and offer IT workshops to deaf and hard-of-hearing adults already in the national workforce or preparing for IT employment. The project establishes a new computer laboratory to support workshop activities, and to allow faculty to incorporate new information technology material into the full-time undergraduate curriculum.