The Rochester Museum & Science Center hosted a fantastic event on November 2 in collaboration with NTID. This accessible event celebrated Deaf culture and highlighted achievements in STEM with interactive activities for all ages. Attendees enjoyed meeting deaf professionals in STEM, hands-on ultrasound demonstrations, and engaging programs like "Brainy Day" activities and STEM story time.

NTID student interpreters provided ASL interpretation, gaining valuable experience while supporting the community. The event showcased Deaf culture's richness and inclusivity in a dynamic, educational setting.

RIT/NTID’s presentation of Peter and the Starcatcher was a huge success, captivating audiences November 15-17. This whimsical prequel to Peter Pan brought together talented deaf and hearing actors who performed in American Sign Language, Visual Vernacular, and spoken English. The production, marking NTID Performing Arts’ 50th anniversary, showcased impressive set and costume designs and explored themes of friendship, duty, and adventure. Directed with creativity and heart, the show highlighted the incredible talent and collaboration within the RIT/NTID community.I'm a new paragraph block.

This November, we celebrate three years of the RIT/NTID Parent News newsletter! Thank you to all who have shared your feedback and ideas along the way. Our goal remains the same: to keep parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing students, as well as parents of hearing students in NTID programs, informed and connected to campus life.

We’d love to hear from you! If you have suggestions for topics, questions, or feedback, feel free to reach out. We’re always looking for ways to make this newsletter more helpful for our readers.

We also look forward to meeting many of you during our travels! The Office of External Affairs team frequently visits different parts of the country to engage with alumni, parents, and friends of RIT/NTID. From hosting events and gatherings to catching up over coffee or a meal, we enjoy connecting and sharing updates from campus.

If we’re in your area, we may contact you to see if you'd like to meet. Whether it’s at an event or an informal get-together, we’re excited to connect with you during our travels!

As the semester progresses, it’s easy for both students and parents to feel overwhelmed by the demands of academics, work, and daily life. During this time, practicing gratitude and mindfulness can be a powerful way to stay grounded, support your student, and nurture your own well-being.

Why Gratitude Matters:

Encouraging gratitude—both in yourself and your student—can shift focus from stress to appreciation. Research shows that gratitude helps improve mental health, build resilience, and strengthen relationships. Take a moment each day to reflect on what you’re thankful for, whether it’s your student’s perseverance, a meaningful conversation, or simply a sunny day. You might even invite your student to share something they’re grateful for during your next call or message.

Incorporating Mindfulness:

Mindfulness, or the practice of being present in the moment, can help ease feelings of worry or stress. As a parent, it can be hard not to think ahead—especially about your student’s future—but pausing to focus on the present can help you feel more connected and at peace. A short mindfulness activity, like deep breathing or a few minutes of quiet reflection, can make a big difference.

Tips For Gratitude:

By practicing gratitude and mindfulness, you can create a more positive outlook, deepen your connection with your student, and foster an environment of calm and support—something both you and your student will appreciate during the busy university years.

Resources:

At RIT, our professional staff members provide safe and inclusive access to health and wellness services, while supporting your student in the development of skills and habits that support their personal well-being. Some of the on-campus health and wellness services that are available to your student include:

Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) provides confidential and personalized services to meet the mental health needs of currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students.

The Student Health Center provides primary and urgent care services for all RIT students. Services range from support for acute medical concerns to injury evaluation, to sexual health and nutrition consultation. Additionally, the Student Health Center has limited commonly prescribed medications on-site and can assist with prescription delivery options for students who must fill prescription medications away from home.

Disability Services employs an interactive, student-centered process to determine and approve reasonable accommodations for disabled students. We value disability as a facet of diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive campus community. Disability can take many forms: apparent or hidden, temporary or permanent, static or episodic. Accommodations can help mitigate barriers in any facet of the RIT experience, whether academic, residential, or co-curricular, and may support needs related to mental health, learning, chronic illness, communication, mobility, and more.

To stay in touch with other parents and up to date on current events, join our Facebook group for parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing and interpreting students at RIT/NTID! More resources are available on the NTID Parents and Families page. Other resources also are available on the RIT Parents and Families page.

For any questions, feel free to reach out to Loriann Macko, Director of NTID Alumni & Constituent Relations, at Loriann.Macko@rit.edu.

rit.edu/ntid

52 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, NY 14623 | Unsubscribe