Student Spotlight: Improving Healthcare Access for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals
RIT Student Aims to Improve Deaf Education Through Public Policy
Rochester,NY – Emma Kane,a driven third-year public policy major at Rochester Institute of technology (RIT),is making waves in the field of Deaf education. Kane, who hails from Brighton, NY, has dedicated the past year to groundbreaking research at RIT’s Deaf Health Laboratory, a hub of innovation within the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID).
Kane’s journey began in 2023 as a Summer Healthcare Academic Research Program (SHARP) scholar. As than, she has blossomed into a chief research assistant, presenting her findings at national conferences and local symposiums.
“I’ve been working to identify barriers in sex education for Deaf and hard-of-hearing young adults,” Kane explains. “The goal is to improve access to sexual health resources through gamification and create effective policy solutions.”
kane’s research extends to reproductive health, where she collects data on the experiences of Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals with uteruses, aiming to shed light on thier access to resources and healthcare.
while Kane’s research has ignited a passion for public health, her ultimate goal lies in shaping educational policy for Deaf children.
“I never thought about doing research until I participated in the SHARP program,” she admits.”It gave me the autonomy to explore diffrent research areas, leading me to focus on public health within the Deaf community. While I don’t see myself in the medical field, I’m deeply committed to changing Deaf education through policy work.”
Kane envisions a future where she leverages her expertise to advocate for improved access to education for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children. She aspires to pursue an MBA and a Ph.D. in education policy, ultimately working in a bustling metropolitan area like Washington, D.C.or Boston.
“Public policy offers a unique intersection of policy, actions, and regulations,” Kane says. “It’s about creating the big picture and finding innovative solutions to complex problems. For me, it’s the perfect balance of advocacy and creating lasting change in the lives of Deaf children.”
Beyond her research, Kane is an active member of the RIT community. She is involved with Alpha Sigma Alpha, Student Government, and the College Panhellenic Council. When she’s not immersed in academics or extracurricular activities, Kane enjoys exploring Rochester’s vibrant coffee scene.
RIT Student Fights for Equitable Deaf Education Through Policy
Rochester, NY – Emma kane, a third-year public policy major at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), is making her mark in the field of Deaf education. Hailing from Brighton, NY, Kane has been conducting groundbreaking research at RIT’s Deaf Health Laboratory, a leading innovator within the National Technical Institute for the deaf (NTID).
Kane’s journey began in 2023 as a Summer Healthcare academic Research Programme (SHARP) scholar. Since then, she has blossomed into a chief research assistant, even presenting her findings at national conferences and local symposiums.
“I’m working to identify barriers in sex education for deaf and hard-of-hearing young adults,” Kane explains. “The goal is to improve access to sexual health resources through gamification and create effective policy solutions.”
Kane’s research extends to reproductive health, where she collects data on the experiences of Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals with uteruses, aiming to shed light on their access to resources and healthcare. While her research has ignited a passion for public health, Kane’s ultimate goal lies in shaping educational policy for Deaf children.
“I never thought about doing research until I participated in the SHARP program,” she admits. “It gave me the autonomy to explore different research areas, leading me to focus on public health within the Deaf community. While I don’t see myself in the medical field, I’m deeply committed to changing Deaf education through policy work.”
Kane envisions a future where she leverages her expertise to advocate for improved access to education for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children. She aspires to pursue an MBA and a ph.D. in education policy, ultimately working in a bustling metropolitan area like Washington, D.C. or Boston.
“Public policy offers a unique intersection of policy, actions, and regulations,” kane says. “It’s about creating the big picture and finding innovative solutions to complex problems. For me, it’s the perfect balance of advocacy and creating lasting change in the lives of Deaf children.”
Beyond her research, Kane is an active member of the RIT community, involved with Alpha Sigma Alpha, Student Government, and the College Panhellenic Council. When not immersed in academics or extracurricular activities, Kane enjoys exploring Rochester’s vibrant coffee scene.