The Trump administration has canceled a series of education grants that supported deaf and hard-of-hearing students in pursuing careers in science. The grants, which included funding for scholarships, mentorship programs, sign language interpretation, and research supplies, were instrumental in helping deaf students like Sara Blick-Nitko, who is searching for cancer treatments, and Matthew Peeks, a classroom instructional aide at a school for deaf students.
The cancellation of these competitive grants has left many deaf students uncertain about their future. Peeks, who wants to become a teacher, cannot afford the tuition without the scholarship he applied for. The program, which was set up to train 24 teachers over three years, is now in jeopardy due to the funding cuts.
Gerard Buckley, president of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, says the loss of federal support will affect not only deaf students but also the broader health community. “They’re naturally upset,” he says. “They tried to train for these careers. They really believed they were doing the right thing.”
The cancellation has sparked concerns about bias and barriers faced by deaf people in accessing healthcare. Michelle Koplitz, a Ph.D. student studying how long-term health affects deaf children, notes that the work supported by the pipeline helps counteract these issues.
As the situation unfolds, many are left wondering what the future holds for these students and their dreams of contributing to scientific advancements.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/28/nx-s1-5357617/federal-deaf-scientists-cuts-nih-education