Demand for Tutors for the Deaf
Tutors for the deaf seem to be in demand as editors of homework papers for deaf college students because of their ability to explain English concepts in American Sign Language.Locations of Tutors for the Deaf
There are tutoring centers at Gallaudet University, NTID, and other colleges with a deaf program. For example, there is a website at Austin Community College for the Riverside Learning Lab for Disabilities that has deaf tutors and uses telecommunications technology like the Sorenson videophone as contact points. Their website is http://www.austincc.edu/rvstutor/Accommodations/DeafTutor.php.Canada has colleges with a deaf program as well, for example, Bow Valley College in Calgary, Alberta. They provide Deaf or hearing tutors fluent in ASL for deaf students when needed. For more information about their Learning Resource Services for Learners with Disabilities, you can check their website on http://www.bowvalleycollege.ca/disabilities/learning_resources_services.htm.
Tutoring for the Deaf Online
At the time this article was written, my friend, who is a self-employed web developer, proposed developing a website that had video capability for students and tutors to sign to each other during live online sessions. This online tutoring service would be much like hearing online tutoring services. It would be like the tutors on http://www.tutor.com/, except no microphone and no speakers would be required. Everything would be conducted visually. I told my friend that I preferred a referral service much like Tutor Nation on http://www.tutornation.com/, but for Deaf students and Deaf tutors.Gallaudet University has an outside online tutoring service that is provided for free for its students. It is SmarThinking on http://smarthinking.com/. They edit papers and provide writing advice. They use an online whiteboard for their live sessions. Instead of using "ga" like on the TTY, they use the word "done" to indicate the end of one's turn at typing. Their online tutors are people scattered in the USA and even out of the country.
Tutoring Paid for by Vocational Rehabilitation
Finally, tutors can become providers of tutoring services for Deaf vocational rehabilitation services clients. Tutors must fill out a provider application to get on the listing of providers. Clients that qualify for VR-paid tutoring are generally those who do not have access to a local tutoring center, or for whom available college tutoring services are inadequate.Related Blog Postings
