Thanks to a grant and a cooperative agreement with the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (ORSC), Terra Community College has made it easier for deaf and hearing impaired students to communicate and learn.

Through an assistive technologies grant from the Ohio Board of Regents and the ORSC, Terra purchased three Ubi-Duo communication systems – portable, wireless, battery-powered, stand-alone communication device that facilitate simultaneous face-to-face communication by means of two displays and two keyboards.

The device will allow students who are deaf or hearing impaired to communicate instantly with anyone without the need of a third party.

Ron Huss and Kimberly Williams display the Ubi-Duo units at Terra.

Two of the units will remain on campus to be used by the Office of Disability Services during advising sessions. This equipment will also be available to other departments or academic divisional offices. The third unit was donated to the Sandusky County Office of the ORSC. Grant funding will also be used for counseling and for testing to assess students’ disabilities.

“The Ubi-Duo allows our students to communicate clearly and independently, make phone calls, participate in group discussions, take notes and print, all without help from an aide or interpreter,” said Kimberly Williams, Coordinator of Disability Services and Academic Improvement.

Ron Huss, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, agrees that the use of the Ubi-Duo will help people with disabilities as they transition to work or higher education.

“In working together, ORSC and Terra identified a true need and a means of accessibility to allow those with significant disabilities to be able to open the door to learn more effectively, efficiently, and to prepare for the competitive job market,” Huss said. “Many people focus on the disability instead of an individual’s true abilities and what they have to offer.”

Many accommodations for individuals with disabilities are reasonable accommodations and not expensive but rather call for a common sense approach, Huss said.

“We have employers who have benefited from some of the ergonomic/accessible accommodations that end up serving all employees, able body or disabled,” he said. “A win-win situation for all.”

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