By
Cristy Smith
November 12, 2010
History of National Technical Institute for the Deaf
In 1930, a Deaf teacher from the Minnesota school for the Deaf
wrote, “A national technical institute for the deaf…located in a
large manufacturing city, is what deaf young Americans need more
than anything else…such an institution should include several
buildings filled with modern machines, appliances, tools, materials,
dormitories…a gymnasium, library, tennis courts, trees, shrubs,
flowers, a director, a staff of competent instructors, and 500
students….A dream, yes, and a possibility.” (Gustina 2) In 1965, the
National Technical Institute for the Deaf Act (Public Law 89-36) was
signed into law by Lynden B. Johnson. This bill was to provide the
establishment of a postsecondary institute for technical education
for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. From there, over 20
colleges and universities around the country applied to host NTID on
their campus. (Wikipedia 1)
Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New
York was one of the institutions that applied. Rochester had a large
Deaf community, and was very receptive to the idea of hosting an
NTID. In 1966, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester,
NY was officially selected as the premiere NTID. (RIT-Overview)
In 1967 Dr. D. Robert Frisina became the first director
of NTID. A National Advisory Group was also appointed to assist Dr.
Frisina in developing a sound educational program for the students.
Dr. William E. Castle was the first dean of NTID, appointed in 1968,
and during this time a pilot group of 70 deaf and hard of hearing
students enrolled at the college. In 1969, NTID’s first technical
programs were offered. Included in these programs were architectural
drafting, mechanical drafting, machine tool operation, and office
practice and bookkeeping. A student interpreter training program was
also established; this was the first school in history to offer a
program such as this one. (RIT-Overview)
The National Technical Institute for the Deaf continued
to grow in Rochester, NY. More educational programs were developed,
and more social opportunities such as Experimental Educational
Theatre and Sunshine and Company (a theatrical outreach group) were
available for people who were deaf or hard of hearing. (RIT-Overview)
Today NTID is known as the world’s first and largest
technical college for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
It includes nine academic departments and programs, and ten
different majors. NTID also offers a plethora of services for
students. Some of the academic services include a Learning
Consortium, which supports students’ academic progress through
tutoring, and through experimental instructional and access
technology, and a Library for Deaf Students, which offers databases,
websites, and other resources for information in Deaf Studies. There
are also a large number of social clubs and activities that students
are involved in such as athletics, theater, and other special
interest clubs. (NTID.edu)
The mission statement for NTID is:
"To provide deaf and hard-of-hearing students with
outstanding state-of-the-art technical and professional education
programs, complemented by a strong liberal arts and sciences
curriculum, that prepare them to live and work in the mainstream of
a rapidly changing global community and enhance their lifelong
learning." (Livadas 1)
Every aspect of the National Technical Institute for
the Deaf, in Rochester, NY, promotes and supports this statement.
NTID offers the cutting edge technology, services, and instructors
to give those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, the best possible
education.
Works Cited
Gustina, Donna. "History of NTID Interpreter." PEN-International. 23
Apr. 2007. Lecture.
Livadas, Greg. "RIT - NTID - FOCUS Magazine." RIT - National
Technical Institute for the Deaf. Web. 17 Sept. 2010. <http://www.ntid.rit.edu/media/publications/focus>.
"National Technical Institute for the Deaf." Wikipedia. Web.
30 Sept. 2010. <http://www.wikipedia.org/>.
RIT - National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Web. 30
Sept. 2010. <http://www.ntid.rit.edu/>.
"RIT - Overview - History - National Technical Institute for the
Deaf." Rochester Institute of Technology. Web. 5 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.rit.edu/overview/history_ntid.html>.
For
more about this topic see:
NTID:
The National Technical Institute for the Deaf