Supporting d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing College Students: Considerations for Student Affairs Practitioners

As the 1975 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) have continued to open doors to mainstreamed educational settings for d/Deaf and hard of hearing students, a growing number of such individuals make their way to American colleges and universities. College and university professionals at predominately hearing institutions are frequently un- or under-prepared to meet the needs of this diverse group of students. This paper serves as a primer for student affairs practitioners seeking to better understand the history, culture, and individual needs of d/Deaf and hard of hearing students, and highlights best practices within student affairs in regard to working with this population