Tyler Smeltekop is the Assistant Director of Assistive Technology Innovation at the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) office. He joined the team in September of 2022 with goals of expanding the MSU community’s access to accessible technology, course content, and equitable experiences across campus. Tyler’s own experience of living as a Deaf person has inspired him to become an advocate for others in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community as well as for those living with a non-hearing loss disability. He shares, “…that disability accommodation is a compassionate, creative process tailored to each individual’s needs.”
In September of 2023, Smeltekop was appointed to the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services Board of Directors. He will continue his advocacy work for the deaf and hard of hearing community through his service on this board. “It’s essential to me that our children with hearing loss in Michigan are given the opportunity to succeed and accomplish their goals, and D&HHS is positioned to provide services and consultation at critical points of need,” he said.
Deaf Awareness Month, which is recognized in September of each year, helps to inform others how the deaf communities around the world come together to celebrate, and bring awareness of deaf-related issues, their culture and language that are unique to the deaf and hard-of-hearing people. The Deaf & Hard-of-hearing Services (D&HHS) is a local organization that helps to provide equal communication access, education, and advocacy to the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities across Michigan. During Deaf Awareness Month, the D&HHS hosted an event to celebrate those in the Deaf and hard of hearing community in which Tyler was a part of. To read more about this event and how it made an impact on our local community, click here.
Tyler is a passionate and dedicated advocate—ensuring equitable communication access for all through his professional work with the RCPD and through his role at D&HHS.
