Overview

Though accommodations may be necessary for students with disabilities, many of the measures which provide accessibility can actually be embedded in classrooms as a component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This presentation will review common barriers to learning, not only for students who are deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH), but for all students, as well as ways to overcome these obstacles. Some hot topics such as the myth of "teacher voice" and the use of captions will also be discussed. Accessibility for online learning environments will be addressed throughout the presentation.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe at least two common barriers to listening in a classroom or online environment.
2. Identify at least two classroom interventions that could be accommodations, components of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), or both.
3. Develop at least three justifications for the use of captions in classroom and/or online environments.

Strand(s)

Vision & Hearing Technologies

Target Audience

Accessibility Professional; ADA Coordinator; Administrators; AT Specialists; Communication Specialist; Consultants/Trainers; Curriculum and Instruction; Disability Services; Educators; Faculty/Instructors - Higher Education; Instructional Technologist; Media Specialist; Occupational Therapists; Rehabilitation Counselor; Speech-Language Pathologists; Special Education Educators; Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing; Transition Coordinator; Vocational Rehabilitation

Experience Level

Introductory; Intermediate

Primary Life Cycle Addressed

Birth – Pre K; Elementary - Secondary (K-12); Higher Education

Session Delivery Format

In-person presentation with live stream

Course Schedule

This course was given at the ATIA 2024 Conference on Saturday, January 27 from 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM (EST)

Continuing Education Credits

For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Online Education CEUs

This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; AOTA; ASHA; CRC; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours

Speaker/s:

Samantha Sturgeon, M.Ed.

Florida School for Deaf and Blind, Parent Advisor and North East Regional Coordinator

Biography

After earning her Masters Degree in Deaf Education from University of North Florida, Samantha became a Certified Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Currently she works in early intervention for the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind's Parent Infant Program, serving over 25 families across the State of Florida both virtually and in person. Previously Samantha has served as a DHH district program coordinator for Duval County Public schools and an Itinerant teacher for DHH students.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
OPS service provider for Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind's Parent Infant Program, OPS Content Expert for Resource Materials and Technology center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (RMTC-DHH).

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Chair of the University of North Florida Deaf Education Steering Committee.

Kori Gedris

Putnam County School District, Itinerant Teacher for the Deaf-Hard of Hearing

Biography

Kori Gedris has been the itinerant Teacher for students who are Deaf-Hard of Hearing in Putnam County Florida for ten years. Prior to working with the DHH population, she worked in a separate class setting with students who had significant cognitive disabilities and taught using alternate achievement standards to the general education standards. Kori has been involved in administering and/or supervising the administration of the Florida Alternate Assessment in her district since 2008. Additionally, she was the 2023 President of Florida Educators of students who are Deaf-Hard of Hearing, FEDHH.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
I receive a salary from Putnam County School District as per my employment as an Itinerant Teacher for the Deaf-Hard of Hearing. I also received financial benefit of waived conference fees and travel expenses related to the Florida Educators of students who are Deaf-Hard of Hearing, FEDHH, conference as a member of the Board 2022-2024.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No