If only because absolutely everything at the university is adapted for teaching the deaf and hearing-impaired: classrooms, teaching aids, electronic devices used. The university even publishes its own publications. And its own research laboratory regularly conducts various surveys, tests, creates mobile applications for deafblind children and students. This allows the university not only to improve educational programs, but also to export the created media products to different countries.
The territory of the university is enormous. At times it feels like a small town inside the majestic and historic Washington, D.C. The campus includes academic campuses, several dormitories for students, its own swimming pool, research lab, schools, museums, stores, and several dining halls. In fact, it’s not just a university, but also a research and medical center with a rehabilitation program for hearing-impaired children.
When you first get inside, you don’t immediately understand how this university is different from any other. Only when you enter the cafeteria or look in one of the lecture groups do you realize that it is too quiet inside. Everyone speaks sign language here – students, faculty, local store and cafeteria workers, service staff. All of these people communicate with each other in sign language.
And the choice of faculties is literally huge and no different from any other university in the United States: sports, humanities, medicine, economics, and a wide range of technical disciplines. There are several laboratories on campus that study the pathologies that lead to hearing loss and develop media and online products to make everyday life easier for people with hearing loss.
The total number of students reaches nearly 2,000. Interestingly, about 5% of that number are foreigners. According to reviews, Washington, D.C. – the state capital – is one of the most comfortable cities for the deaf-blind. And this is due not only to the ancient university, but also to the presence in the city of entertainment, adapted for the deaf.
It is important that the university not only teaches deaf children, but also helps them in life – helps with employment. Statistics show that over 80% of graduates find a job in the field they studied at the University.
How to Become a Student?
As with most U.S. universities, international students can easily enroll at Gallaudet University. You will need to take tests and be prepared for the fact that the tuition for international students is twice as high as for U.S. citizens.