Servicios de apoyo para estudiantes sordos en tres instituciones de educacion superior en Puerto Rico: Implicaciones para los lideres educativos

The purposes of this research were to identify and analyze the nature and extent of support services featuring three institutions of higher education to deaf and hard of hearing students. The research explored whether or not these support services for the deaf and hard of hearing students facilitated in the creation of an academic culture that promoted integration. It also analyzed and assessed the implications of developing an academic culture in its relation to educational leadership that addresses deaf and hard of hearing students in the university settings. The research method used was qualitative under a design of an exploratory multiple case study, through which three leading institutions of higher education in Puerto Rico, described the leadership exercised to coordinate and provide support services for deaf students. To collect the data, interviewing techniques with semi-structured in-depth questions were used. Also, paper reviewed, digital documents collected were analyzed and observations were transcribed into a diary.;Educational leaders in their testimonies revealed the prevailing situation regarding the availability of support services for students with hearing impairments. The results of the interviews with the educational leaders helped to identify and analyze the nature and extent of the support services offered at three institutions of higher education to deaf and hard of hearing students. Furthermore, by analyzing observations made during visits to the institutions the researcher could explore and validate that the support services the deaf students received facilitated the creation of an academic culture that promoted integration. Likewise, the researcher analyzed and assessed the implications of developing an academic culture as it relates to educational leaders that address the needs of deaf and hard of hearing students in university settings.;The three leaders met deployed through their experiences the skills they possess in the exercise of their duties as educational leaders. Leaders expressed freely about their roles and challenges facing continuously to properly care for deaf and hard of hearing students. As a result from the analysis of the data, the leaders of the three institutions that were part of this research, agreed on the importance of support services in a cultural context and inclusive academic setting. The leaders agreed that the services are necessary for students with hearing loss to be successful in their academics and major that they aspire. The three leaders foster the integration of deaf students by coordinating and providing services and training for faculty and staff in general.