Troy Gets Over $1 Million

Troy University will get $1.5 million over five years to fund deaf interpreters training program offersing a bachelor’s degree in education for interpreters. The money will come from the Alabama Dual Party Relay Board which was founded more than 20 years ago to help the deaf receive telephone service. The program will be available through distance learning, allowing students at Troy's satellite campuses to enroll in the program. The university hopes to eventually establish a center on deafness at the Troy campus. The program was started last year with a quarter million dollar grant from the Alabama Department of Education. There were 25 people enrolled for the first year and about 100 this year. There are about 40,000 deaf people in Alabama but only about 200 licensed interpreters.