The Speech Accessibility project is now recruiting people who stutter, and people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The project is partnering with AImpower.org and Gallaudet University, respectively, on its newest phase.

Adults who are deaf or hard of hearing can sign up online for a meeting with a mentor from Gallaudet University. Adults who stutter can sign up online for a meeting with a mentor from AImpower.org. The project is recruiting U.S. adults, but unfortunately cannot enroll those who live in Illinois, Texas and Washington. The project hopes to begin recruiting Canadian adults soon.

Want to share the project with someone? You can download a flyer for those who stutter, or for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. (Both flyers will download as PDFs.)

AImpower.org is a nonprofit that believes technology can be a powerful tool that empowers previously oppressed communities and facilitates systemic changes.

“We’re excited to serve as the intermediary between the stuttering community and the researchers and developers building next-generation speech AI,” AImpower.org said in its announcement about the partnership last summer. “While actively outreaching and communicating the goals of this initiative to the community, we see our primary role as an advocate for the stuttering community, representing your lived experiences, aspirations, and perspectives in shaping the future of speech AI technologies.”

Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English.

“Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use spoken language may have unique speech characteristics due to reduced auditory feedback,” said Raja Kushalnagar, who is leading Gallaudet’s work on the project, in the university’s announcement. “When speech systems recognize DHH users accurately, it affirms their communication preferences and reduces stigma around ‘non-standard’ speech.”