UbiDuo Success Stories
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Fresno City College Located in Fresno, CA "This device is also awesome for non ASL users who have brief communication encounters with Deaf students across our campus" |
| These are Fresno City College’s own words about how the UbiDuo is impacting their campus for the hearing staff and the students who are deaf or hard of hearing. 1) Why did Fresno City College purchase the UbiDuos? In an ongoing effort to continue to promote communication access among our constituents: students, staff, faculty, and community members, we wanted to provide an alternative, additional option toward bridging communication. The 15 UbiDuo serve as an excellent means to facilitate brief text conversations between Deaf and hearing communities. They are portable, easily accessible, user-friendly and allow for efficient communication to occur for brief questions and answers and conversations at various departmental counters. 2) How do the students and faculty feel after using the UbiDuo to communicate freely with each other? “After using the UbiDuo I feel empowered to communicate with Deaf students where otherwise I would rely mostly on using pencil and paper to communicate. I have limited ASL skills, so the UbiDuo works great to supplement my communication. This device is also awesome for non ASL users who have brief communication encounters with Deaf students across our campus” -Ryan J. Blodgett 3) What are your thoughts about the students and faculty being able to hold their conversations on the UbiDuo? Often times students have quick questions or comments that can be readily answered via text so having the UbiDuo accessible and ready is another great option to accommodate communication for both Deaf and hearing people. Interpreters cannot always be available, not everyone knows ASL, and often quick daily business can still successfully occur when there is another form of communication available. The UbiDuo seems to fulfill that purpose for our students, staff, and faculty. It is also more convenient than using a paper and pen and eco-friendly because we don’t waste paper and ink! 4) What situations are the UbiDuos being used in such as meetings or other functions? Currently, the UbiDuos at Fresno City College, are used primarily at the front counters of various departments; such as, Admissions & Records, Learning Resource Center, Library, Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSP&S), Financial Aid, Campus Police Department and our DSP&S Interpreter Office. Our goal is to have the remaining UbiDuos distributed across our campus by the end of the Fall 2008 semester at the following departments: Psychological Services, Tutorial Services and Health Services. 5) What would you like to say to other universities or colleges that have deaf/hard of hearing students? Today’s modern age of technology and communication go hand in hand. It can be a frustrating experience to approach a counter where a common language or form of communication may not be shared so when there is a bridge that can amend that for brief moments, it can make a big difference in how a given college, business, agency, entity is perceived. Having the UbiDuos available means we as a college are sending a message that says we value YOU! I am a strong proponent of access to communication because effective communication leads to opportunities. When people are afforded a variety of ways to communicate, people can continue to conduct their daily routines, live independently, access resources, initiate questions and comments, essentially- people can participate. The UbiDuo is not meant to replace American Sign Language or interpreters; rather it affords Deaf/ hard of hearing and hearing people an additional way to communicate and participate so that they may not be displaced! Here is the link to the video of how Fresno City College is using the UbiDuo to communicate with their students who are deaf or hard of hearing. http://www.scommonline.com/video |
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