Allyson Friedman

I am an itinerant teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and travel to multiple schools in NYC each day. Now, with our schools closed due to Covid-19, I "travel" to different Google Classrooms and "visit" my students through video sessions.

Due to their hearing loss, my students are visual learners - relying on aids such as pictures, media, video with closed captioning & sound to support their daily lessons. Some wear hearing aids to help them hear better, while others have cochlear implants. Many also use Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT unit) at school to reduce background noise, improve clarity and reduce listening fatigue.

Because of their hearing loss, my students tend to miss important information in the classroom. The noisy classroom environment and poor acoustics make learning even more difficult for them. As an itinerant teacher, I have one-on-one or small group sessions with my students where I can help fill in the learning gaps for them as well as teach them how to self-advocate.

I have often had to work with my students in a hallway, cafeteria, and even a closet! With the success of this project, you will bring technology to us, no matter where we may be learning on that particular day. I am an itinerant teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and travel to multiple schools in NYC each day. Now, with our schools closed due to Covid-19, I... read more