Did you know that the Hearing Our Way Magazines are posted digitally? You can find the Spring 2020 issue here! I have also created a worksheet to accompany the Spring issue and it is totally FREE! This would be a perfect activity to send home to your students while they are home during school closures this next month. They can read the magazine right on their iPad or computer. Click here to get the worksheet :)
Do you like to use games in therapy? I LOVE using games in therapy because they are fun and the students do not even realize that they are working while they are practicing important skills. It is a win-win for all! Sometimes you can work on a skill and then play a quick game at the end of the session and other times games can be incorporated right into the session.
One of our favorite games to play is Connect Four because it is a back and forth 2 player game. Students can work on a task and earn the pieces to play at the end or they can work while we play.
I created game companions for Connect Four for different language skills that my students were working on and plan to make some more in the future because they have been such a big hit. Currently posted are VERBS, ADJECTIVES and HOMONYMS.
Requesting closed-captioning, understanding how to choose the best seat in the classroom for them, ensuring that their teachers are using the FM appropriately, and the list goes on and on. Teaching children about self-advocacy skills and the rights that they have now means they will be able to advocate for themselves as they get older.
Many people may think that if a student has their hearing aids or cochlear implants then they are good to go and can access all information in school and life but that is not the case. These are just tools to help them be successful but there is much more needed to help DHH students access information. Accommodations and modifications are put into place on their IEPs and must be followed. No two students are alike and the same goes for students with a hearing loss so their accommodations may all look differently.
Teaching students about their accommodations and modifications is vital to their understanding to be able to advocate for themselves as they get older. Teaching students what accommodations are, which ones they have on their IEP, how to tell teachers about what they need and where they can find them on their IEP will strengthen their self-advocacy skills and benefit them immensely.
My Accommodations VS. Modifications resource to is available to help teach your students how they can advocate for themselves in this important area!
Did you know that 1 in every 4 people have a hearing loss? September is National Deaf Awareness Month. The purpose of this month is to increase public awareness of hearing loss, provide information on the services that are available, and to celebrate all the things that people with hearing loss can do.
The Walk4Hearing in Buffalo took place today in culmination of Deaf Awareness Month. The Walk4Hearing supports The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and agencies in Buffalo by providing information, education, support and advocacy. Families had a chance to meet and connect with other families with hearing loss, learn from each other and participate in the fun activities that were provided. Since 2006, the HLAA Walk4Hearing has raised more than $13 million and has become the largest walk for hearing health. This year, the Walk4Hearing in Buffalo raised over $30,000! Walks are held all over the country! Check out walk4hearing.com to find a walk near you!
Super Hear-oes
Getting their attention before speaking
Being in a well-lit, quiet environment
Assuring that your mouth is visible for speech reading
Speaking clearly and naturally
Checking for understanding
Repetition of what was said if necessary