Mighty Monkey Wrenches

Project IFADS

INCREASING FIRST AWARENESS IN DEAF SCHOOLS (IFADS)



IFADS is a project our team created to help us reach our most important goal: introduce Deaf students to the world of FIRST. After moving into shop space in MKSD’s old welding shop in 2007, we created a joint team with students from both Ewing High School (EHS) and Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf (MKSD). As the number of Deaf students on the team increased, it became apparent that the Deaf Community is in many ways isolated and would benefit greatly from exposure to FIRST.

 

* Making connections: Since 2008, we have been actively identifying as many U.S. schools for the Deaf as possible and sending them information on FIRST programs, encouraging them to participate. To date we have sent out more than 500 letters and e-mails making many new connections, including members of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), individual state DOE boards and enthusiastic teachers.

 

* Kickoff Closed Captioning (CC): Experience with members of our team led us to realize that FIRST events have not been Deaf person friendly. Imagine if you could, watching Kickoff in silence without benefit of CC. As a result, we started a campaign and succeeded in getting FIRST to make it easier to get CC for Kickoff starting in 2010.

 

* Sign Interpreters: Another long term campaign concentrated on FIRST Board of Directors, Regional Directors, and Regional Planning Committee Directors to obtain sign language interpreters for all regional competitions and championships. As a result, FIRST has formally agreed to provide interpreters when needed. In past years, we have provided these services through our team’s efforts wherever we competed.

 

* Traveling Ambassadors: This past summer we drove “Ambassadors” close to 400 miles to the Maryland School for the Deaf while they hosted the American Society for Deaf Children biannual Conference. We presented our team as an example of what can be accomplished with passion and hard work.

 

* Local Ambassadors: MKSD routinely hosts Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association sports tournaments. We participate every year at MKSD annual picnics by showing off our robot and distributing information. We take advantage of these events to educate visiting teachers, students, parents, and administrators of the benefits of FIRST.

 

* Deaf Fest: This past September, we sent Ambassadors to the New Jersey Deaf Fest. This all day event is conducted every other year, and is dedicated to bringing together deaf residents of N.J. to find out about services and programs aimed at helping them. It was an honor to represent MKSD at this prestigious event.

 
 
What is FIRST?
       FIRST® stands for: 
      For
       Inspiration and
        Recognition of
         Science and
          Technology

Vision of FIRST®  
“To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes.“ ~Dean Kamen

 

Our team embraces Dean Kamen’s vision. We are very passionate that any individual, disability or not, is able to explore the worlds of science and technology thus encouraging them to become our future scientists, engineers and technologists.

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Mission, Platform and Community Outreach
Team 2016 integrates FIRST®  with the Deaf Community increasing Awareness in Deaf Schools.

Also Team 2016 participates in several community outreach activities that foster student development and serve the public. 

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Hello!

 

  

Team Leadership
Team 2016 is set up in a hierarchy of individuals. The head of the team, the Team Captain, maintains order in the team, keeping an effective system of communication between the technical and business sides of the team. 

 

Subteams
Our team is composed of smaller subteams. Each subteam has a specific task be it involving the robot itself, or the whole team.

 

Mentors
Industry experts in specific fields of engineering and business devote time to guiding and supporting students through building robots. 

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2012 Season Team 2016