About Institutional Repositories

Usually, institutional repositories (IRs) bring together all of a University's research under one umbrella, with an aim to preserve and provide access to that research.

IRs typically are an excellent vehicle for working papers or copies of published articles and conference papers. Presentations, senior theses, and other works not published elsewhere can also be published in the IR.

With IDA@Gallaudet, the goal is to marry historical context with present-day research by including digital archival collections. We hope eventually to trace the evolution of the signing ecosystem through a historical framework that supports students' sense of belonging while enabling greater innovation by encouraging knowledge and learning across the lifespan in both ASL and English.

Because ASL--Gallaudet's native language--is such a visual language, we envision that IDA will take on a strongly visual character through the use of video, images, and complex digital objects that weave historical narratives from the early 19th Century with current research.

With this unique approach, we will be able to learn the deep background of deaf cultures and signed languages throughout the world while chronicling the changes sweeping through deaf communities in response to rapid technological changes that increase accessibility, connectivity, and creativity--many of which were and continue to be developed by deaf people.

We encourage faculty members and students to submit their work to this repository, both to preserve their efforts and to provide a framework on which future scholars can build.