Deaf computing academy welcomes first participants in national program

WHAT: The 2007 Summer Academy for Advancing Deaf & Hard of Hearing in Computing, a nine-week academy teaching talented students the fundamentals of computer science and aimed at boosting their numbers in the field.


WHO: 10 deaf and hard-of-hearing students, in their last years of high school or early years of college, who show promise for a career in computer science.


WHEN: June 18 - Aug. 17


WHERE: University of Washington, Seattle campus


DETAILS: Students from around the country will take an introductory computer-programming class and a project course in computer animation. The students will also tour local high-tech companies and meet with deaf or hard-of-hearing professionals. Representatives from IBM, Oracle and Cray will talk to the students about their own experiences obtaining advanced degrees and pursuing careers in computer science. This will be the first of at least two years of funding for the academy.


The number of deaf or hard-of-hearing people with doctorate degrees in computer science remains very low, according to academy co-director Richard Ladner, professor of computer science and engineering. The summer academy is part of the UW’s Alliance for Access to Computing Careers and is funded by the National Science Foundation.