Gallaudet University • Research at Gallaudet 2019 • A Publication of the Office of Research and International Affairs RESEARCH at GALLAUDET A Publication of the Office of Research Support and International Affairs Spring 2019 Deaf Studies Conference brings new knowledge and perspectives to the field of enormous social, political and ASL and Deaf Studies professor and chair. n November 1-3, 2018, the ASL and O technological change, a time when “Attendees expressed a lot of gratitude for Deaf Studies department held a Deaf categories, identities, boundaries, are this conference, a first since 1997. I even Studies Conference on campus, consisting becoming increasingly fluid, a time that is had some reflective takeaways from the of various workshops, presentations, increasingly transformational,” according conference. There’s so much research that and other collaborative activities with to the conference marketing brochure. needs to be conducted to make significant presenters from throughout the world. transformations in the world.” “After many months of discussing, The conference, themed “Transformations,” planning, and worrying, the 2018 Deaf With a generous sponsorship from studied existing frameworks through Studies Conference: Transformations DawnSignPress, the ASL and Deaf the generation of new knowledge finally happened,” said Dr. Arlene B. Kelly, Studies was fortunate to have three and perspectives. “We live in a time continued on page 3 Student Luilly Segundo shares details on Dr. Carolyn McCaskill, ASL and Deaf Studies Student Kailyn Aaron-Lozano elaborates on the Panamanian Sign Language at the poster session, professor, gives a presentation on Black ASL. nuances of Plains Indian Sign Language. held at JSAC on November 2. Carnegie classifies “Research Expo Part II: Poster Session” to be held Gallaudet ‘High Research April 4, 2019; Part 1 provides glimpse at possibilities Activity’ University The Office of Research Support and Gallaudet University’s ongoing International Affairs (RSIA) is preparing for commitment to research that benefits Gallaudet Research Expo Part II: deaf and hard of hearing people and all Poster Session, https://youtu.be/ humanity around the world led to a higher gP2jtL0HOvM,which will be held on reclassification in December 2018 by the Thursday, April 4, 2019, noon-2 p.m., in Carnegie Classification of Institutions of the LLRH6 Co-Lab and Terrace areas. Higher Learning. For the first time since Poster submissions for RExpo Part II are the classification system was created in due by Friday, March 15. Students, Faculty, 1970, Gallaudet is recognized as a research and Staff are encouraged to submit quality university, specifically, in Carnegie’s research studies, both past and present, Senda Benaissa, senior research associate/ “Basic” Category for “Doctoral for a poster display at this event. For more international academic coordinator in the Office Universities: High Research Activity (R2).” information and accommodations, contact of Research Support and International Affairs [email protected]. (RSIA), and principal organizer of the Gallaudet The Carnegie Classification of Institutions Research Expo, welcomes the audience to Elstad Auditorium on October 31, 2018 for Expo Part I: of Higher Education was created by the continued on page 5 Presentation Session. continued on page 5 Page 1 Gallaudet University • Research at Gallaudet 2019 • A Publication of the Office of Research Support and International Affairs Gallaudet University • Research at Gallaudet 2019 • A Publication of the Office of Research Support and International Affairs Priority Research Fund grantees announced Dr. Lori Day towards working with deaf trainees will he Office of Research Support and T Dr. Deborah Schooler be assessed. Quantitative and qualita- International Affairs (RSIA) joins Provost Psychology tive analyses will be used to identify the Carol J. Erting in extending congratulations NEW: FIRST YEAR predictors of biased attitudes. Second, an to the following individuals for receiving Title: Attitudes Toward Working with Deaf intervention designed to shift attitudes Priority Research Fund (PRF) grants for the Clinical Psychology Trainees towards working with deaf trainees will be 2019 fiscal year. Abstract: Currently, there is a need for deaf tested. The intervention will be based on mental health professionals to serve deaf the literature on bias reduction, generally, A high level of research activity is essential populations, but bias against deaf students and will be further informed by the results to the mission of Gallaudet University and may result in an underrepresentation of of our survey of clinical trainers. Taken the well-being of our constituents. These deaf clinicians. Anecdotal reports together, these results will strengthen researchers are to be applauded for helping document deaf students’ experiences of our understanding of the barriers deaf Gallaudet fulfill these objectives. biases from hearing supervisors. students experience during their training Combatting this bias requires a systematic experiences and will provide us with tools The PRF is a $35,000 award paid by RSIA understanding of the attitudes of hearing for combatting discrimination. to assist faculty and staff with expenses professionals, who may be perpetrators of associated with getting their studies bias, towards working with deaf Dr. Sherry Eyer underway, with the understanding that they trainees. With a multi-method approach, Dr. Donna Morere will obtain external funding to expand and the proposed study addresses the attitudes Psychology sustain work in their chosen area when the of hearing psychology professionals Dr. Thomas E. Allen start-up funding expires. towards working with deaf trainees. NSF Visual Learning and Visual Language First, in a survey of trainers, attitudes (VL2) Dr. Ilaria Berteletti Gallaudet’s TAP and IT partner with Google to Ph.D. Program in Educational Neuroscience (PEN) produce popular speech to text app SECOND YEAR Title: Language, Mathematics, Cognition, ive Transcribe (https://www.android. and Learning: The Extended Educational L Since then, Google has worked closely com/accessibility/live-transcribe/), a Longitudinal Study (EELS-II) with TAP and Gallaudet’s Information speech to text app developed by Google Abstract: Despite normal levels of intelli- Technology program to receive user in partnership with Gallaudet Universi- gence, deaf children remain behind their interface guidance. A heavy emphasis ty’s Technology Access Program (TAP), hearing peers in academic achievement. was placed on instant availability without received more than a million downloads in Evidence highlights the importance of complicated setup, visual indicators of the the Google Play Store as of March 18, 2019, early language access for later academic environment, and other features that mir- since its release for Android just six weeks success. Little research tracks achieve- ror the conversational dynamics of deaf earlier. ment for deaf children with a view toward and hard of hearing people interacting identifying the role of language in later with hearing people. The app, which provides immediate and cognitive and academic development. easy-to-use captioning of spoken, face to The current research will contribute basic TAP coordinated the trusted tester pro- face conversations, was originally devel- knowledge through building on a previ- gram for Google during the run-up to the oped by Google for internal use by some ous longitudinal study that tracked deaf launch. Testers were recruited by TAP and of their deaf employees, according to Dr. children and their emergent literacy skills featured a mix of students, faculty, and Christian Vogler, director of TAP. However, from ages 3 to 7. Researchers will investi- staff, as well as members of both the deaf once word of the technology got around, gate whether previously observed relation- and hard of hearing communities off-cam- “members of the Gallaudet University ships between early language skills and pus. community convinced the Google prod- emergent literacy among these children uct team in March 2018 that there would predict later literacy and numeracy out- be tremendous value in releasing it to the comes. They hypothesize that the impact wider public,” said Vogler of language skills on early reading will persist through all stages of reading skill development and also predict cognitive skills associated with numeracy through middle school. The proposed research would follow this cohort of children for an additional three years (beginning at age 10) with math and reading assessments, and allow us to develop and test models of learning that include indicators of early vi- sual language experience and reading and math outcomes. Influences of home and TAP staff members (from left) Dr. Christian Vogler, director, Norman Williams, senior research classroom strategies on academic growth engineer, and Paula Tucker, research associate, demonstrate the Live Transcribe app. continued on page 16 Page 2 Gallaudet University • Research at Gallaudet 2019 • A Publication of the Office of Research Support and International Affairs 2018 Deaf Studies Conference Booths representing different deaf organizations and vendors.were set up at the Gallaudet Kellogg Conference Hotel, the site where most workshops were held. continued from page 1 international keynote speakers: Dr. Annelies Kusters from Heriot- the department. “Gallaudet is the perfect place to do that,” Hlibok Watt (Edinburgh, Scotland);