Technology Summit Focuses on Deaf Students

The use of technology to improve literacy among hearing impaired students was the focus of a summit held in Columbia Friday.

The event featured Dr. Stephen Nover, the founder and director of the Center for American Sign Language in Washington, D.C.

Nover, who is deaf, discussed some of the new technologies available to hearing impaired students, including speech to text services.

With both the hearing and hearing impaired in attendance, the presentation was interpreted vocally and transcribed visually.

Carol Mabry, from the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, says the summit was about more than just technology.

“This is a fabulous opportunity for people, who have a keen interest in the quality of education of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, to get to know each other, to share ideas, to collaborate, to work together. So that’s a great benefit, as a result of this conference today,” Mabry said.

Organizers say hearing impaired students are underserved, because they don’t represent a large group in the state.

It’s estimated that there are over a thousand deaf and hard of hearing school-age children in South Carolina.