SOFTWARE FOR THE DEAF

We are pleased to offer software from IDRT for the deaf and those with hearing loss. The Institute for Disabilities Research & Training is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through research and development, training, technical assistance, and advocacy. They specialize in research and development efforts on behalf of children and adults who are deaf and hard of hearing and have particular expertise in the development of computer software and other products in American Sign Language (ASL), in research on speech recognition, telecommunications, and closed captioned television, in training related to emergency response for people with hearing losses, and in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

For the past ten years, IDRT has been a leader is the creation of software that is user-friendly to deaf people. All of the software that we create can be enjoyed by deaf, as well as by hearing people. The reason IDRT does this is because most families that have deaf members have hearing members as well. Typically, deaf children have hearing parents, and deaf parents have hearing children. We want the whole family to be able to play and learn together. Accessibility is often achieved by having video or animation of deaf signers interpreting auditory information. Picture menus and icons are used with deaf children to help them navigate the programs. IDRT's software has received international recognition, including the prestigious Codie award for Paws Signs Stories (a.k.a. ASL for Kids) in 2001 under the Special Needs category.