User:Aslmagic/sandbox

Jason Hurdich is a renowned Deaf native ASL signer from New York City. He is an accomplished educator, interpreter, and scientist with over thirty years of experience teaching college-level American Sign Language (ASL) and Signed Language Interpretation classes.

Education and Career
Hurdich attended the Lexington School for the Deaf and received his B.A. in Political Science from Boston University. In 2013, he became the first Deaf graduate of the Master of Education (M.Ed.) program in Signed Language Interpretation at the University of North Florida.

Hurdich is a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) with the Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (RID) and has been interpreting professionally for over twenty years. He has also been active in the interpreting field as a Deaf Interpreter for nearly twenty years, dating back to the mid-1990s.

In addition to his work as an interpreter, Hurdich has had an impressive career as a researcher and scientist. He worked for almost ten years as a Team Leader of Sign Language Projects for Vcom3D, Inc., where he was responsible for creating STEM content material in American Sign Language.

In 2016, Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina praised Mr. Hurdich's efforts during Hurricane Matthew, calling him a "rock star" for his exceptional work in providing critical updates and guidance to the public during the storm. Haley's comments were widely reported in the media and recognized Hurdich's dedication and expertise in emergency management.

In 2019, Hurdich co-founded the ASL coffee social, which has since become popular in Greenville. The event has helped to bring together members of the Deaf community and provide a space for people to practice their ASL skills in a relaxed setting. The coffee social has also helped to raise awareness of Deaf culture and promote inclusion for the Deaf community.

Hurdich's work with the ASL coffee social has helped to transform the Deaf community in the Greenville region. The event has received positive attention and has been recognized for its efforts to promote Deaf culture and community.

Overall, Jason Hurdich has significantly impacted the Deaf community in the Greenville area through his work with the ASL coffee social. His efforts have helped to promote inclusion and raise awareness of Deaf culture and have been instrumental in bringing together members of the Deaf community in the region.

Research and Awards
In 2008, Hurdich published an article titled "Utilizing lifelike, 3D animated signing avatar characters for the instruction of K-12 Deaf learners" in the Proceedings of the Exploring Instructional and Access Technologies Symposium National Technical Institute for the Deaf Journal. The article focuses on the work of Vcom3D, Inc., a leading company in the research and development of technology to help teach K-12 Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students.

According to the article, Vcom3D's SigningAvatar® characters have been shown to significantly improve many children's attention span, engagement, and academic results. The technology was evaluated at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. The results showed that comprehension increased from 17% to 67% when shifting from text-only to text accompanied by sign language using the SigningAvatar technology.

Hurdich has been recognized for his many contributions to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community throughout his career. In 1996, he received Boston's Citizen Award for his outstanding contributions towards the quality of life for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing youth and for promoting Deaf awareness in Boston. In 2017, he was awarded the Marie Griffin Interpreter of the Year Award by Southeast Regional Institute on Deafness, becoming the first Deaf interpreter to receive the honor. Most recently, in 2021, Hurdich was named the Palmetto Goodwill (South Carolina) State Champion for his work for individuals with disabilities, including the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community.

Teaching and Service
Hurdich serves as the Board Secretary of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) for the 2021-2024 Term. He is also a Senior Lecturer of American Sign Language at Clemson University.

Personal Life
In his personal life, Mr. Hurdich is a proud parent of four children, Nathan (23), Alyssa (18), Jordan (14), and Knox (8).