Steps Needed to Fill a Diversity Gap in The Technology Sector
Introduction
Sign language is a visual communication that uses hand gestures, facial expressions, body movements, and sometimes lip patterns to convey meaning. It is used mainly by the Deaf community and those with hearing impairments, though others may learn it to communicate with individuals.
Sign language is not a universal language. Even within the same country, there can be regional variations or dialects in signs. Sign language is unique to its cultural and expressive environment, similar to spoken languages. For example, American Sign Language (ASL) is used in the United States and parts of Canada, while British Sign Language (BSL) is used in the United Kingdom. These languages have their own grammar and syntax, which differ from the spoken languages of the regions where they are used.
Learning sign language can bridge communication gaps between the hearing and Deaf communities, promoting accessibility and equality.
What is ASL
American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, natural language used primarily by the Deaf communities in the United States and parts of Canada. It is a visual language that uses hand-shapes, facial expressions, body movements, and gestures to communicate. Unlike English, which is spoken and written, ASL has its distinct grammar and syntax, making it a language of its own.
Key Features of ASL
Hand-shapes and Movements: ASL relies heavily on hand-shapes, the positioning of fingers and hands, as well as specific movements to create meaning. Each sign corresponds to a word or concept.
Facial Expressions: Non-manual signals, such as facial expressions and head tilts, play a crucial role in expressing emotions, questions, and tone, which can express emphasis in a specific form. For example, raising the eyebrows can indicate a question.
Spatial Grammar: ASL uses the space around the signer’s body to indicate things like location, direction, and relationships. For example, signers might use different parts of their signing space to show who is doing an action or to whom the action is happening.
Word Order: ASL has a unique sentence structure, which often follows a “Topic-Comment” format rather than the “Subject-Verb-Object” order found in English. For example, instead of saying, “The cat is on the table,” an ASL signer might sign, “Table, cat on.”
Finger Spelling: For proper nouns, acronyms, or words without specific signs, ASL uses finger spelling, where each letter of the alphabet is represented by a distinct hand-shape. This allows for the spelling of names or words that don’t have set signs.
Cultural Significance: ASL is deeply connected to Deaf culture, a vibrant and unique community with its own customs and identity. Learning ASL is not just about language acquisition; it’s also about understanding and respecting Deaf culture.
Diversity Gaps in Higher Education Institutes
The diversity gap for Deaf people in higher education institutes starts from unequal opportunities that Deaf individuals face, particularly in terms of access, participation, and success in educational settings. Several key factors contribute to this gap, including systemic barriers, lack of accessibility, and social inequalities.
Limited Access to Early Education: Deaf children often face educational barriers from a young age, such as a lack of access to early language learning and quality educational resources, particularly in mainstream schools. This can lead to academic underachievement, which affects their ability to pursue higher education later in life.
Barriers to Communication: Many higher education institutions lack sufficient accommodations for Deaf students, such as interpreters, captioning services, or access to technology that aids communication.
Lack of Representation and Role Models: There are few Deaf faculty members in higher education, making it harder for Deaf students to see themselves in academic leadership roles or as part of the intellectual community.
Inconsistent or Lack of Support Services: Many institutions do not have support services specifically made to the needs of Deaf students. Academic counseling, mental health services, and social support systems may not be equipped to handle the challenges Deaf students face. This can lead to isolation, higher dropout rates, and lower academic performance among Deaf students.
Factors Affecting Enrollment in STEM Majors
Lack of Accessibility: STEM courses often rely heavily on technical language, complex mathematical and scientific concepts, and lab work, which can be more difficult for Deaf students to access without proper accommodations, e.g., qualified interpreters or captioning services.
Limited Early Exposure to STEM: Deaf students may have less exposure to technology and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects early in their education due to communication barriers in K-12 schooling, which can affect their interest and preparation for pursuing tech majors in college.
Support in High Education Institutes: While some universities, such as Gallaudet University (a leading university for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students), have strong STEM programs with full accessibility, many other institutions lack sufficient support for Deaf students in technical fields.
Statistics on the Diversity Gap
Lower Enrollment and Graduation Rates: Studies show that Deaf individuals are less likely to enroll in higher education and have lower graduation rates. The U.S. Department of Education found that only about 13% of Deaf people have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to approximately 37% of the hearing population.
Under-representation in Advanced Degrees: Deaf individuals are significantly underrepresented in graduate programs, particularly in fields like STEM, where Deaf students often face barriers to participation due to the technical language and limited access to specialized interpreters or resources.
Challenges Deaf People Face in the Technology Sector
Deaf people are significantly under-represented in the technology sector. Although there has been some progress in promoting diversity and inclusion, numerous barriers still exist for Deaf individuals, preventing equal representation and participation in technology-related careers.
Barriers to Education: Many jobs in the technology sector require advanced degrees or specialized training, and Deaf individuals often face obstacles in accessing higher education, particularly in fields like STEM. The lack of accessibility services (interpreters, captioning, assistive technology) in STEM education can limit opportunities for Deaf students. Limited early exposure to technology and STEM subjects also contribute to fewer Deaf students pursuing these fields.
Communication Barriers in the Workplace: The tech industry often requires strong communication and collaboration skills, especially in team environments where verbal communication (meetings, conference calls, brainstorming sessions) is frequent. Deaf professionals may face challenges in fully participating in such environments due to a lack of accessible communication methods, such as interpreters or real-time captioning.
Networking, an important aspect of career development in tech, can be harder for Deaf individuals if events and platforms are not accessible.
Lack of Accessible Technology Tools: While technology has the potential to bridge communication gaps, many workplace tools and software are not fully accessible to Deaf employees. For instance, platforms that heavily rely on audio or video without captions make it difficult for Deaf professionals to engage effectively.
Some assistive technologies, like automatic transcription services, are still imperfect and may not always provide accurate or real-time support, creating challenges for Deaf individuals in technical discussions.
Under representation in Leadership Roles: Deaf individuals are often underrepresented not only in entry-level positions but also in leadership and decision-making roles in the tech sector. There are few Deaf executives, managers, or tech entrepreneurs, making it harder for Deaf professionals to find role models or mentors who understand their unique challenges.
Cultural Barriers and Misconceptions: Many organizations still hold misconceptions about the capabilities of Deaf employees, assuming that communication challenges might limit their ability to perform or contribute fully. This can result in discrimination or unconscious bias during hiring, promotion, and inclusion processes.
There may also be a lack of awareness about Deaf culture and sign language within the tech industry, contributing to a lack of proactive accommodations.
Steps to Increase Representation
Tech Companies Focused on Inclusion: Some tech companies have begun promoting inclusion for Deaf employees. Large companies like Google, Microsoft, and IBM have made efforts to improve accessibility and inclusion by providing accommodations such as captioning services, sign language interpreters, and accessible communication platforms. However, these efforts are not yet widespread across the industry.
Deaf-led Technology Initiatives: There are also Deaf-led initiatives and organizations working to promote Deaf representation in tech. For example, organizations like DeafTec and Deaf in Tech are dedicated to helping Deaf individuals gain the skills and support they need to thrive in technology careers. These organizations often offer mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources for professional development.
Accessible Tech Education Programs: Some educational institutions and coding boot camps are creating more accessible programs for Deaf students interested in technology. Programs that offer interpreters, captioning, and hands-on learning environments help Deaf individuals acquire the technical skills needed to enter the workforce.
Assistive Technology: Advances in assistive technology, like real-time captioning software, video relay services (VRS), and AI-powered tools, are making it easier for Deaf people to communicate and participate in technical fields. These technologies have improved workplace accessibility and opened doors for more Deaf professionals to succeed in tech.
Conclusion
While Deaf people are underrepresented in the technology sector, progress is being made to bridge the gap. Increased focus on accessibility, advocacy, and support for Deaf professionals in tech is helping to create more inclusive opportunities.
However, more systemic efforts are needed in education, workplace culture, and technology design to ensure full participation and representation of Deaf individuals in the technology sector. We can start closing this gap by starting at a grassroots level and sowing the seeds of technology at the middle/high school level by teaching the basics of technology using sign language to Deaf individuals.
Updates to the sign language dictionary with signs for tech-related words are also a must, as many tech words have to be spelled as of now. Finally, creating tech solutions that enable the Deaf community to learn and engage better in tech spaces such as through blogs, videos of teaching technology using ASL, and tech interviews with industry leaders help prepare these individuals for opportunities in the workforce. Through all of these next steps, the Deaf community can participate and engage like any other employee in the workforce.
