Student Mesquite, other teens explore career opportunities in the computer field hearing in Seattle

Sarah McGough happily spent the summer swimming in technology. They have learned new programs, worked on computer animation and hung geeks.And much larger than that country has made many quietly.Sarah, a '16-year-old hearing impaired student at North Mesquite High School, was one of 10 students nationally selected to participate in what is probably the country's first computer to the field of hearing and impaired students. You nine weeks, and all expenses paid program at the University of Washington in Seattle is funded by the National Science Foundation.

Many of the workshop was conducted by hand with American Sign Language.

"This program is very visual," said Sarah chat online. "I see things from a different perspective."

Many students with hearing impairment who use technology to help them in their daily lives. But with interest in this area is often used for repair of computer programs rather high programming classes, "says Rob Roth, coordinator of the program.

Academy offers students taking a class of programming, working on an animated video, and more importantly, to visit the major IT firms like Microsoft, Google, Oracle and game company Valve. There they get a chance to see how business works and see others with hearing problems who are successful in their professions, "said Roth, who also is deaf.

Sarah heard about the program by a teacher to ensure that she gets the help it needs in the classroom.

Sarah, who uses a hearing aid, and sometimes a sign language interpreter, was protected by the sixth grade classes and gradually moved into mainstream classes. Now the top is in honor and Advanced Placement classes.

It calls himself a computer geek, but "not 24 / 7, have social life." She is considering a career in computer science or multimedia, but has not decided where to study.

This is exactly the kind of student the program hopes to encourage, "says Roth.

"Our summer academy is to provide resources, knowledge and skills is provided, so students can see if this is what they want in the future, and show the many different jobs in the computer, adjust the interest that could have," said via e-mail .

He said the hearing-impaired students often feel isolated in classes, if not the only ones who hear no sound. The program allows them to conveniently communicate with others in the same way.

Sarah said that other hearing-impaired students in the program to its best.

"This summer program got me to see how we [hearing-impaired students] to make things work and found through other methods, as in an ordinary classroom," she said.