Hearing Impaired Interest Floor
An academic residential living option
"Open the door to new experiences today"
What is the Hearing Impaired Interest Floor ?
Located in Grant Towers
Designed for all students
Opened to all students - hearing or with a hearing loss
Interested in:
- Hearing loss
- Sign language
- Deaf Culture
- Deaf Education
- Audiology
- Education
- Rehabilitation counseling
- Speech language pathology
- Special education
- Desire to broaden cross-cultural knowledge and skills
Students who live on this floor have the opportunity to:
- Acquire improved sign language skills.
- Increase everyday knowledge of effects of hearing loss.
- Gain a valuable living experience to list on a resume.
No required major, only an interest in deafness or sign language and a desire to become involved in a community. This is an opportunity to meet people from diverse backgrounds on this 50 resident co-ed floor.
Floor Activities
- Experience educational, service, and social activities.
- Increase interaction/understanding between those who are hearing impaired and students preparing for careers working with persons who are deaf/hard of hearing.
- Develop multi-cultural skills and knowledge for future careers.
Recent Activities:
- Deaf Awareness Week
- Conversational sign language classes
- Deaf Culture presentations
- Community service (Valentine making, Christmas caroling, Bowl for Kids' Sake)
- Deaf Trivia contest
- Floor member of the week
- Educational presentations to community
- Sign Sync performances
Living Benefits:
Bringing together students with common interests; either through a college major or an interest in deaf culture, hearing loss, or sign language.
A variety of social activities, academic programming, and living conveniences are offered.
Safety and convenience features:
- Visual doorbells
- Visual fire alarm systems
- Visual phone ringer
- Amplified handset for telephones
- TTY (Teletypewriter for the Deaf )
- TV with closed captioning in lounge
General Benefits:
- Living with other students with similar interests.
- Opportunity for student and faculty/staff get-togethers.
- Practice sign language skills.
- Sense of community and connection at NIU.
- Develop leadership skills.
- Develop multi-cultural skills and knowledge.
Requirements:
- Satisfactory academic standing at the university
- Abide by all Housing and Dining regulations with special regard to quiet hours
- Respect study rights of all others on the floor
- Attend all floor meetings called by the Community Advisor
- Participate in floor sponsored social and educational activities
- Assist in the organization/implementation of at least one social, cultural, or educational program per semester
- Participate in floor-sponsored Silent Dinners
- Contribute to a good community through a positive attitude toward residents and activities, to develop a sense of community, leadership, and involvement.
Jenifer Montag, Faculty Advisor
Center for Access-Ability Resources
400 Health Services Bldg.
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
Phone: 815-753-1694 V/ 815-753-3000 TTY
Fax: 815-753-9570
Email: jmontag@niu.edu
