AT&T Foundation Presents $11,000 Grant to OSU for Resource Library & American Sign Language Program

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Resources and technology to benefit students and communities statewide
 (STILLWATER, OK., January 21, 2008)– The Oklahoma State University [OSU] Foundation announced today an $11,000 Excelerator grant received from the AT&T Foundation, the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), for the creation of the AT&T Corporation Resource Library and the AT&T Corporation Signing Pals Program, which will significantly boost technology and sign language capabilities for the university’s English department.

 “The AT&T Foundation awards Excelerator grants to nonprofit organizations that are planning to use technology to expand the reach of their services and increase the impact that those services have on people,” said Don Cain, president, AT&T Oklahoma. “We are pleased to provide this grant to Oklahoma State for a program that uses technology to improve communications with the deaf and hearing impaired.”

Establishment of the library and the Signing Pals Program will allow OSU to provide educational resources and services for students, children and community members.  

OSU Deaf/Hard of Hearing Specialist Sandie Busby said, “[Through this program] students will be able to visually see their mentor and gain access to a valuable exchange of information, but more importantly, they see a live role model using language. This is so important for those students who are the only one in their school who is deaf—they can now access others using their language, thus giving them a better advantage in learning.”

Through improved electronic and written materials, the Resource Library will play an important role in improving receptive and signing skills of students pursing degrees in American Sign Language (ASL), allowing self-critiques and interactive practice sessions.  

The Signing Pals Program will target K-12-aged children and allow participants to connect with others by using Web cameras and software programs that utilize instant messaging-type systems to network and enhance language skills.

Additionally, no program exists that allows deaf children to access improved language models. With the creation of the program, children will have a variety of signing models and mentors with whom they can network and interact.  

Maintaining a commitment to the land-grant heritage and obligation of OSU, the new resources and technology will be available to the public and agencies such as the Department of Human Services, Sooner Care.  Students studying ASL and interpreting at institutions such as OSU-OKC and Tulsa Community College will receive invitations to join the signing pals program and schools in Broken Arrow (about 100 deaf students), Tulsa Public Schools (50 students), the Oklahoma School for the Deaf (245 students) and schools in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area are natural beneficiaries of the program.  

“I use a similar program in my ASL II classes,” said Lisa Barnum of Westmoore High School.  “Having the signing pals via webcam will make for some great role models for the students. We can’t wait!”

Smaller school districts and vocational-technical schools in Oklahoma, such as Owasso, Bartlesville, Berryville, West Moore, Cushing, Perry, Ponca City, typically serve 1-10 deaf students in their systems and will gain substantial benefit from the program as they often have little or no access to language models other than a lone interpreter.  In the community, the program could reach a large portion of the 33,000 citizens in the region who are deaf or hard of hearing.   

The Oklahoma State University Foundation is one of nine nonprofit organizations in Oklahoma -- and among the more than 680 nationally -- that are benefiting from nearly $9 million in competitive AT&T Excelerator technology grants from the AT&T Foundation.

The AT&T Excelerator program provides technology access to organizations working to strengthen underserved communities. Helping nonprofits integrate technology into their operations and community outreach, AT&T Excelerator grants also place technology tools in the hands of the underserved populations that the nonprofits work with in order to provide resources such as education programs, Internet access, computer training and job-skills development.

Since its inception in 2002, the AT&T Excelerator competitive technology grant program has provided more than 2,500 technology grants — totaling more than $47.8 million — to deserving organizations across the country.  

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com .

The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents.  Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.

For more information on the OSU Foundation, log on to our Web site at www.OSUgiving.com  or call 405.385.5100.