NTID PLAY Lab

Spotlight on Tamara Grosso 🌟 sharing her research on pointing gestures and signs in American Sign Language, exploring how meaning is built across space, reference, and conversation ahead of her July PhD defense; followed by the perfect end-of-semester celebration with great company and even better food🍕🎂

The NTID Research Fair 2026 WAS A SUCCESS! 🥳🙌 Our NTID PLAY Research Assistants worked tirelessly all semester and proudly presented their incredible projects today.

✨1. Sophie Colatoy - Parent Support and Children’s Exploration During Naturalistic Museum Play✨

✨2. Kierstin Delk - Race-Conscious Teaching Practices In Interpreter Education Programs✨

✨3. Carrisa Hallock - Comparing Children’s Play Interests Across Age and Gender✨

✨4. Bella Sellers - Gesture Use Across Signing, Bimodal, and Speaking Parent-Child Dyads During Museum Exploration

We are beyond so proud of our RA students. Excellent work all around! 🧠✨

[ID - Slide 1: Four NTID PLAY Research Assistants smiling together before presenting at the 2026 NTID Research Fair, wearing name badges and semi-professional attire.

Slide 2 (Sophie):
sophie standing beside her research poster on parent support and children’s exploration, smiling next to a display with charts and text.

Slide 3 (Kierstin): Kierstin standing beside her poster on race-conscious teaching practices, smiling next to a board with charts and participant data.

Slide 4 (Carrisa): Carrisa standing beside her poster on children’s play interests, smiling in front of a display with images, graphs, and text.

Slide 5 (Bella): Bella standing beside her poster on gesture use in parent-child interaction, smiling next to a colorful display with charts and labeled sections.]

Tuesday’s brain facts are here! It’s incredible how much our brains can process and generate daily. Our brains are truly remarkable for efficiently consuming all those thousands of thoughts! 💭🧠✨

Ready to go beyond the classroom? The NTID PLAY Lab is looking for undergrads to join the SPaCE Center team. 🤓🧠

The Perks:
• 📚 Earn course credit
• ✨ Flexible hours for your schedule
• 📊 Hands-on research experience

Open to any RIT/NTID students! (ASL knowledge is a plus 🤟)

Apply now:
📧 [email protected]
🌐 ntidplaylab.com
✨ Or scan the QR code to start

Who doesn’t love brain fun facts? Well, did you know that the brain generates enough electricity to power a 25-watt bulb? 👀💡Your brain is basically a mini power plant!⚡️🧠

As we are wrapping up the Women’s History Month, we’re excited to celebrate the incredible contributions of deaf women in science! The PLAY Lab is thrilled to honor and acknowledge all your hard work and achievements! Let’s give a big round of applause to Dr. Rachel Mazique, an associate professor in the Liberal Studies Department at NTID, for the recognition she truly deserves! Dr. Mazique is a 3rd-generation multiracial Deaf Latina, and her children are part of the 4th-generation of Deaf people in her family. She also made history by performing at the 2012 Super Bowl as the National Association of the Deaf’s Miss Deaf America Ambassador. And finally, her research and scholarship, whether it’s focused on human rights and bioethics, Deaf literature, or writing, always shines a light on Deaf communities.🧏🏻‍♀️🧠📝✨

[ID: A woman with long, dark brown hair is smiling gently at the camera. She is wearing rectangular glasses with thin frames, a maroon top, and a gray textured cardigan. Her hair is parted to one side and falls over her shoulders. She is slightly angled rather than facing straight forward, giving a natural and friendly appearance. The background is plain and brown, keeping the focus on her face and expression.]

MEET THE RESEARCHERS! 🤩✨

Led by Dr. Rain Bosworth, Director of the PLAY Lab 🧠
Supported by Jessica Wages, Lab Coordinator 📋

Research Assistants 🔍
Carissa Hallock
Bella Sellers
Kiersten Delk
Sophie Colatoy

Graduate Research Assistants 🎓
Nicole Taboada
Savannah Tellander (PhD Student)

More to come—stay tuned to learn more about their research!📝

Meet Rain! 🤓 She’s from California and previously majored in Experimental Psychology during her time in college.🧠🔬Her favorite childhood characters were Grover and Big Bird from Sesame Street—such classics!❤️

[ID: A woman sitting on grass holding a baby goat in a blue blanket]

[ID: A little girl with long blond hair smiling]

(1/8)

Meet Jessica! 🤓 She’s from Ohio and previously majored in Graphic Media Publishing during her time in college.👩🏻‍💻✨Her favorite childhood character was Mickey Mouse from The Mickey Mouse Club—such a timeless favorite!🐭

[ID: A woman with brown hair, wearing a white collared-gray sweater, trees in the background]

[ID: A little girl with brown hair in pigtails, wearing a white shirt, standing and leaning onto a recliner.]

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Meet Carrisa! 🤓 She’s from New York, her home state, and majoring in Interpreting, B.S., and her favorite childhood character when she was a child is Loonette the Clown from the Big Comfy Couch!

[ID: A woman with brown hair smiling and sitting in a tree; wearing a purple floral shirt, grey pants, and black boots]
 
[ID: A little girl with long brown pigtails looking determined; wearing a blue shirt and cap, striped shorts, and a pink and purple baseball glove]

(3/8)

Meet Bella! 🤓 She’s from Texas and is pursuing a B.S. in Psychology with a Criminal Justice minor. 🧠👩🏼‍⚖️Her favorite childhood duo was Dora and Boots from Dora the Explorer—adventurous and fun!🗺️🤩

[ID: A woman with long curly hair smiles while standing outside at night in a snowy area. She is wearing a red dress with a matching fur-like shawl, along with earrings and a necklace. Buildings and trees are visible in the background.]

[ID: A little girl with a brown/pink shirt and strawberry blonde hair with a gold bow headband, hugging a brown teddy bear wearing a red cheerleader outfit, an open door, and a laundry bin in the background] 

(4/8)