A review of mentoring deaf and hard-of-hearing scholars

ABSTRACT

Diversification of the scientific workforce usually focuses on recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities but often overlooks deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) persons. Usually classified as a disability group, such persons are often members of their own sociocultural linguistic minority and deserve unique support. For them, access to technical and social information is often hindered by communication- and/or language-centered barriers, but securing and using communication access services is just a start. Critical aspects of training D/HH scientists as part of a diversified workforce necessitates: (a) educating hearing persons in cross-cultural dynamics pertaining to deafness, sign language, and Deaf culture; (b) ensuring access to formal and incidental information to support development of professional soft skills; and (c) understanding that institutional infrastructure change may be necessary to ensure success. Mentorship and training programs that implement these criteria are now creating a new generation of D/HH scientists.

KEYWORDS:

• American sign language
• communication accessibility
• deaf and hard-of-hearing persons
• designated interpreter
• faculty and student diversity
• workforce diversity

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Interpreter Services and Deaf Professionals lead, Tanya Andrews; dedicated program ASL interpreters, Ms. Nikki Cherry, Ms. Marlene Elliott and Ms. Valene Przybylo-Souky; the University of Rochester Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs Office for coordinating access services for scholars in the Rochester Bridges to the Doctorate for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students and Rochester Postdoc Partnership IRACDA for Deaf Scholars programs; and the Department of Access Services, a division of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology, for coordinating access services for RIT-RISE Scientists-In-Training Program for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Undergraduates. Participants in various faculty development workshops have provided considerable enthusiasm and helpful feedback.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences grants: R25 GM107739 (PCH, SB, JC, CAM, PJS-H), K12 GM106997 (MAL, PCH, SB, CAM, PJS-H), and R25 GM122672 (SRS).

Notes on contributors

Matthew A. Lynn

Matthew A. Lynn, PhD is Chair and Associate Professor of Chemistry, Department of Science and Mathematics and Teacher Education Director for the Rochester Postdoctoral Partnership to Advance Research and Academic Careers of Deaf Scholars program at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY.

Elizabeth Butcher

Elizabeth Butcher is a nationally certified sign language interpreter specializing in healthcare interpreting. She manages the interpreter services program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester NY.

Jessica A. Cuculick

Jessica A. Cuculick, EdD is an Associate Professor, Associate Director for the Center on Culture and Language, Director of the Deaf Health Laboratory, and Director of Professional Development for the Rochester Bridges to the Doctorate for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students training program at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY.

Steven Barnett

Steven Barnett, MD is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Director at the University of Rochester of the Rochester Bridges to the Doctorate for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students training program, member of the Executive Team of the Rochester Postdoctoral Partnership to Advance Research and Academic Careers of Deaf Scholars program, and Director of the National Center for Deaf Health Research at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester NY.

Camille A. Martina

Camille A. Martina, MS, PhD is a Research Associate Professor in the Departments of Public Health Sciences and Environmental Medicine, past program evaluator for Rochester Bridges to the Doctorate for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students training program, and current program evaluator and co-chair of career development for the Rochester Postdoctoral Partnership to Advance Research and Academic Careers of Deaf Scholars program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester NY.

Scott R. Smith

Scott R. Smith, MD, MPH is a Research Associate Professor and served as the Director of the Rochester Institute of Technology Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) Scientists-In-Training Program for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Undergraduates at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY.

Robert Q Pollard

Robert Q Pollard Jr., PhD is Professor and Associate Dean of Research at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology. He also is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry where he founded the Deaf Wellness Center.

Patricia J. Simpson-Haidaris

Patricia J. Simpson-Haidaris, PhD is an Associate Professor of Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology and Pathology, Science Education Director for the Rochester Bridges to the Doctorate for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students training program, and Program Training Director for the Rochester Postdoctoral Partnership to Advance Research and Academic Careers of Deaf Scholars program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester NY.