Magic Ears and Why that might be the wrong approach
A good friend of mine is Hard of Hearing and has been since birth, she got hearing aids at age three. While she had many assistive devices and knew how and what they did for her others would get confused. Her mother would baby sit other kids, especially as she got older. My friend would try to follow the conversation of the kids, but because of her hearing loss she struggled, she would try to explain what her hearing aids were for. Her mom in an effort to explain would tell the younger kids that she had "Magic Ears" that helped her hear.
For me I felt that this is the incorrect approach. Kids understand so much more than we ever give them credit for. It is simple to explain to kids that hearing aids are like a microphone and speaker that puts it right into headphones into her ears to help her hear.
More than that however it shows a huge need for showing kids diversity in their environment. They can understand so much of what is going on around them. Especially in a classroom environment. So many kids can easily be picked on by those in their class because of something that is different about them. Using simple methods explain why James gets an iPad in class or doesn't speak at all. It can help kids become more sympathetic for those with disabilities that they come across.
Inclusion comes in so many different ways. It can be more complicated or very simple. This comes down to the idea of accommodation and modification. In a classroom accommodations are speaking with the class to help them understand what is going on and then making the curriculum available to all of those who need that help. Adding captions or offering PECS devices in the classroom. Giving students who are nonverbal (autism, selective mutism, heard of hearing, or just shy) the chance to speak when they feel comfortable and not forced to speak in large group settings or when they feel stressed.
For me I felt that this is the incorrect approach. Kids understand so much more than we ever give them credit for. It is simple to explain to kids that hearing aids are like a microphone and speaker that puts it right into headphones into her ears to help her hear.
More than that however it shows a huge need for showing kids diversity in their environment. They can understand so much of what is going on around them. Especially in a classroom environment. So many kids can easily be picked on by those in their class because of something that is different about them. Using simple methods explain why James gets an iPad in class or doesn't speak at all. It can help kids become more sympathetic for those with disabilities that they come across.
Inclusion comes in so many different ways. It can be more complicated or very simple. This comes down to the idea of accommodation and modification. In a classroom accommodations are speaking with the class to help them understand what is going on and then making the curriculum available to all of those who need that help. Adding captions or offering PECS devices in the classroom. Giving students who are nonverbal (autism, selective mutism, heard of hearing, or just shy) the chance to speak when they feel comfortable and not forced to speak in large group settings or when they feel stressed.
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