Department of Access Services
Department of
Access Services
Department of Access Services (DAS) provides interpreting, notetaking, and real-time captioning services to the RIT community. Our goal is to provide the highest possible quality of access to communication.
Access services enable more than 650 deaf and hard-of-hearing RIT students to register and fully participate in roughly 23,000 credit hours annually in more than 200 highly competitive academic programs. Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students alike use access services to communicate with each other in a variety of extra-curricular activities associated with student clubs and organizations, entertainment and sports events, and RIT programs and services.
What We Do
Interpreting Services
RIT has the largest staff of professional sign language interpreters in all of higher education. Last year, RIT provided more than 131,000 hours of interpreting services. In addition to classroom interpreters, students, faculty and staff also may request interpreting services for non-academic activities such as athletic events, religious services, student government meetings, guest presentations and other student life activities.
Real Time Captioning Services
This service uses real-time captionists to provide a thorough English text display of classroom lectures and discussion. Students read this text during class and receive access to review or print it as permanent class transcripts.
Notetaking Services
Trained student notetakers record information during class or laboratory lectures, discussions and multimedia presentations. Class notes then are placed on the Web for access. Last year, RIT provided more than 77,000 hours of notetaking services for students.
Requesting Access Services
Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Access Services (DAS) is to promote and facilitate access to communication between the Deaf, deaf-blind, hard-of hearing and hearing individuals who work, learn and interact in the RIT community. As a team of dedicated professionals, we strive for excellence in our work. We value confidentiality, integrity, professional growth, respect for cultural and linguistic diversity, and an open and ongoing collaboration with each other and those whom we serve.
Diversity Statement
The Department of Access Services (DAS) recognizes and values diversity as an integral part of our mission. We are committed to the equitable treatment of and respect for all of our staff and the diverse community we serve. To that end, we commit to continuing education that incorporates principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, community, and belonging. We also endeavor to seek out and hire a diverse staff in alignment with the university’s strategic plan, Greatness Through Difference.
Randleman Program
The Randleman Program is a two-year preceptorship that focuses on intersectionality and inclusion. It aims to equip interpreters of color that have recently entered the field for the demands of interpreting in a postsecondary environment, while simultaneously increasing diversity representation. Protégés are assigned a preceptor and an individually designed curriculum. Protégés work 40 hours a week, which includes hours of interpreting, language development, professional development with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, and leadership development activities.
Diversity Outreach Committee
Diversity Outreach Committee’s (DOC) mission is to bridge the gap between the Interpreting & NTID’s Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing/Deaf-Blind AALANA communities. We aim to provide educational opportunities that incorporate principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and community. We also strive to create a space where AALANA community members can freely express their feelings, develop their identities, and ultimately cultivate a sense of belonging.
Learn with Us
DAS also provides options for learning with us. For more information about the Apprentice Program, contact Emily Call at excdis@rit.edu. Regarding Student Interpreting, please contact Jean Rodman at jmrdis@rit.edu, or Kip Webster by phone at 585-475-2887 or email wkwdis@rit.edu.
Go to the Learn with Us page to read more about these opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Department of Access Services (DAS) has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions from students, faculty, staff, and prospective students about access services at RIT/NTID.
All Frequently Asked Questions below are shown in both text and video format. Videos may also show steps on how to perform specific actions on the DAS portal, myaccess.rit.edu. The term “service provider” refers to someone who is providing sign language interpreting, real-time captioning, or notetaking services.