Helping Student Housing be

More Deaf-Friendly
Makenna Santos
Vocabulary
DORM
ASL
HIS FIRST YEAR IN
UNIVERSITY, fs-MIKE HE
IX-R LIVE WHERE?
DORMS.

English
Mike lived in the dorms his
first year in college.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
RESIDENT
ASL
cond
LIVE DORMS, YOU
RESIDENT.

English
If you live in the dorms, you
are a resident.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

RESIDENTIAL
ADVISOR
ASL
fs-KARLA SHE FEEL EXCITED
WHY? SHE START NEW JOB RA
fs-RESIDENTIAL fs-ADVISOR.

English
Karla is excited about starting her
new job as a residential advisor.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
PROCEDURE
ASL
THAT PROCEDURE, YOU
ASK BOSS MUST.

English
The procedure for that is to
ask the supervisor.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
EMERGENCY
ASL
IF EMERGENCY, YOU
HELP NEED YOU?

English
If there is an emergency, do
you need help?
DOORBELL
ASL
MY PARENTS THEIR DOORBELL
LIGHT CL: Flat O (lights flashing).

English
My parents’ doorbell flashes their
lights.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
CAFETERIA
ASL
ALL STUDENT++ LIVE
DORM, THEM HAVE FOOD
PLAN WITH CAFETERIA
MUST.

English
All students in the dorms must
have a meal plan with the
cafeteria.
ENVIRONMENT
COND ASL
WANT MAKE HAPPY
ENVIRONMENT, YOU
TRY MUST.

English
If you want to make a happy
environment, you must try.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
ACCESSIBLE
ASL
THAT AREA, NOT
ACCESSIBLE!

English
That area is not accessible!
INDEPENDENCE
ASL
fs-BOB IX-R HE LOOK FORWARD
LIVE ALONE WHY?
INDEPENDENCE.

English
Bob looked forward to his
independence when he lived alone.
Impact
Identified Issue and
Inspiration
 After continually learning about
Deaf Culture norms, I realized my
work was not an optimum
environment
 Everyone deserves the experience
of living in the dorms!
 Inaccessibility should not be a
deciding factor
Likes and Dislikes
 Likes
 My supervisor was incredibly receptive to the feedback
and enact the changes
 Dislikes
 COVID made everything harder and take longer
Learning New Vocabulary

 ASL That
 Signing Savvy
 Bill Vicars
 HandSpeak
Impacts and Benefits

I hope that long-term, I will be able to take my finding to

other school and help become more accessible

It made me sad to think some students would choose not

to live in the dorms because it was not very inclusive
Thank you!