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MNCDHH News

Student Access During COVID-19

Challenges and potential barriers to communication & access to learning

7/24/2020 8:58:12 AM

Five participants streaming remotely: Ann Mayes, CDI Sarah Hogue, Paige Gerlach, Kobe Schroeder, and Luke Stadelman.

At the time of this newsletter release, Governor Walz has not yet released guidance to schools about the format for learning this fall. We do not yet know if students will return to the classroom, continue with full-time distance learning, or learn in a hybrid format. This video series was created in anticipation of meeting the communication access needs of students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

After schools reopen and students return to their classrooms, there will be challenges and potential barriers with communication and access to learning for students who are deaf/hard of hearing. These challenges need to be considered and addressed.

To address the expected challenges and barriers, a group of organizations, teachers, and recent high school graduates who are deaf or hard of hearing decided to create three videos that highlight these challenges and more importantly, suggest possible solutions. Each video targets a different audience: general education teachers, parents, and special educators (e.g., teachers of deaf/hard of hearing, special education teachers, sign language interpreters, and paraprofessionals). People who are deaf/hard of hearing share their struggles in general education settings as well as possible solutions.

Watch the videos!

Videos

The videos are:

All videos have ASL interpretation, English voiceover, closed captions, and descriptive transcripts. 

Credits

  • Paige Gerlach, 2020 graduate of Farmington High School, incoming freshman at St. Cloud State University
  • Emily Manson, Teacher of Deaf/Hard of Hearing – St. Paul Public Schools
  • Ann Mayes, Independent Contractor – Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing
  • Anna Paulson, Director of Educational Advancement and Partnerships – Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing
  • Kobe Schroeder, 2019 graduate of Lakeville North High School, current student and football player at Gallaudet University
  • Luke Stadelman, 2019 graduate of Lakeville North High School, current student at University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
  • Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing
  • Minnesota Low Incidence Projects

education

communication access

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