VEE-EVENTS: Brickfest

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Deaf Utopia?

Rochester has the highest per capita deaf population in the US, so almost everything is accessible. The local paper even carries deaf-related articles.

Yen and Matty on High Falls bridge, Rochester

The main reason for this is the presence of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), the world's first and biggest technological college for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. But the community is much bigger than the college.

'The town amazed me!' Matty says. 'There's access to anything you want to do without fear of a communication breakdown. People meet at a coffee shop where there's a waitress who can sign! Also there are hearing people in Rochester who can sign in ASL (America Sign Language) in shops, doctor's, dentist's – everywhere! … Lucky for those deafies that they don't have hassle ordering food from menus or finding the right clothes size in shops!

'It's big difference from the UK! America is the 'land of opportunity' – it gives deafies a chance to prove themselves when they want to be, for example, a doctor. I often feel we aren't offered a the opportunity in England because we are DEAF!!!!'

NTID is one of eight colleges within Rochester Institute of Technology. It has great courses plus heaps of opportunities for students in both academic and personal development.

NTID takes turns to host Brickfest with Gallaudet University, in Washington, the other US top spot for deaf higher education. Like NTID, Gallaudet offers the kind of accessible learning environment and community that UK higher-education students can only dream of.

But is this really the way to go? Some people argue that places like Gallaudet and NTID fail to prepare students for the wider world, which, sadly, remains much less deaf-friendly. What do you think? Would you prefer to go to somewhere like NTID, or would you rather that mainstream colleges improved their access? Let us know!

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