LSU Biochemistry Alum Becomes the Deaf STEM Role Model She Once Needed but Never Found
September 30, 2025
Deaf and hard-of-hearing students often face major barriers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, including a shortage of both accessible resources and deaf role models in those fields.
Kayla Cureaux encountered these barriers throughout her school years as she pursued her love of science and math. As an LSU alumnus who graduated in 2021 in biochemistry, she’s working to pave a better path for those who come behind her.
“I’m building a space where deaf learners don’t have to adapt to STEM, it adapts to them.”
— Kayla Cureaux, founder of KaydeafSTEM
“When I was in school, I noticed a major gap,” she said. “There were very few resources that actually taught STEM in sign language. I always had to rely on hearing people to access the full meaning, and that was frustrating. I wanted to change that.”
Cureaux is the founder of KaydeafSTEM, a channel of videos and other tools where she teaches STEM in American Sign Language, or ASL, drawing from her experience as a tutor, classroom support staff, and substitute teacher.
“It’s designed for deaf learners, so they don’t have to constantly switch languages just to understand a science or math concept,” she said. “ASL is a full language with its own structure and culture, and it’s easier to learn and connect when the material is presented in your primary language.”
Cureaux plans to expand KaydeafSTEM into a tutoring website, also creating hands-on school programs specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, where they can dive into STEM in a fully accessible environment surrounded by peers who sign and share the same experiences.
“I’m building a space where deaf learners don’t have to adapt to STEM, it adapts to them.”
– Photos by Eddy Perez
Grateful to LSU
When Cureaux, of Slidell, La., enrolled at LSU in August 2016, she brought with her a love for science and math that ran deep, with an element of spirituality.
“I’ve always been fascinated by how our bodies work and how the universe was created,” she said. “For me, understanding chemistry means understanding the properties and characteristics of everything around us.”
She decided to major in biochemistry. “It’s the perfect field to explore how the Creator designed the universe and how life functions at its deepest level.”
She arrived on campus with big plans but also some trepidation.
Hand signing L-S-U in American Sign Language.
– Animated graphic by Paige B. Jarreau
“I still remember the day I came for orientation. I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect in terms of accessibility, interpreters, or disability services,” she said. “But to my surprise, LSU had already arranged for two interpreters that day, which was rare for me at the time. That moment made me feel confident and reassured. I knew then that I was in good hands.”
She said she deeply appreciated how LSU advocated for equal access and is grateful for the opportunities and support LSU provided. “My experience at LSU was truly amazing. I love LSU,” she said.
But she also envisions a future where STEM is even more visual, more accessible, and more inclusive for the next generation of deaf scientists, engineers, and mathematicians.
Opportunities for Improvement
Cureaux has identified some of the barriers she and others have faced:
- While some educational materials show how to sign specific STEM vocabulary, they don’t explain the concepts in ASL.
- Relying on a translator to explain STEM concepts can fall short if the translator is not proficient in the science or math content being taught.
- Many STEM terms don’t have established signs in ASL, so students often must rely on fingerspelling, which can be slow and lack context, or use valuable class time to make up signs on the spot.
“Deaf people often don’t learn through written words alone; we see and think in visual concepts,” she said. “Many times, we understand the idea deeply, but don’t have a word or sign to match it.
“My goal is to help bridge that gap by creating content that makes STEM accessible through visual language, designed for how deaf minds work. I want to make sure we’re not left behind anymore.”
Cureaux said she didn’t have deaf role models in science growing up. “It’s not that they didn’t exist, I just wasn’t aware of any at the time,” she said.
People around her encouraged her to become a role model herself, to represent the deaf community in STEM, because there was such a lack of visibility.
“I knew I had to break through barriers and challenge the limitations placed on us. In the end, I became my own role model. And now, I’m committed to being visible for the next generation so they don’t have to look as hard as I did to find someone who represents them.”
Next Steps
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