VOICE would like to share with you some accessibility, learning and mental health resources to help your families thrive at home during this period of social distancing.

Letter of VOICE to Ontario Schools

As School Boards prepare for the reopening of schools in September with the context of Stage 3 of the Province of Ontario’s COVID-19 Framework, we recognize that there are limitless considerations within a short timeline. As VOICE for Deaf and Hard of Hearing SEAC Representatives, we want to assist by highlighting the unique impacts of COVID-19 on ​D/deaf and hard of hearing​ ​students and provide recommendations with regards to learning this fall. Read more.

Lettre aux Conseils Scolaires

À l’approche de la rentrée, les conseils scolaires se préparent pour la réouverture des écoles en septembre dans le contexte de la 3ème phase du COVID-19 de la province de l'Ontario, nous reconnaissons qu'il y a plusieurs considérations à prendre durant ce temps. Comme représentants de VOICE pour les enfants sourds et malentendants au sein du CCED, nous souhaitons souligner les impacts uniques du COVID-19 sur les élèves sourds et malentendants et fournir des recommandations concernant l'apprentissage cet automne. Lire la suite .

Return to School Resources

• Join Statement on Reopening of Schools (SickKids, CHEO, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, McMaster Children’s Hospital and Unity Health Toronto)

• Sanitization of Roger products in classrooms (Phonak) This document contains sanitization recommendations of Roger products in the specific context of the Covid-19. Those recommendations are to be applied in classrooms where Roger products are shared between users.
• Research Studies on Face Masks
• • Which Mask is Best for Hearing? (University of Illinois Urbana-Campaign)
  • The Effects of Face Coverings and Remote Microphone Technology on Speech Perception Abilities in the Classroom by Amanda M. Rudge, Valerie Sonneveldt, and Betsy Moog Brooks (2020) published by the Moog Center for Deaf Education
  • More Speech Degradations and Considerations in the Search for Transparent Face Coverings During the COVID-19 Pandemic (American Academy of Audiology)
  • Hearing Awareness with Adam: Back to School & COVID-19 (VOICE)  - click here for the French translation. 
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Accessibility Resources

• Tips for Teachers: Recording your Video (VOICE)
• Tips for Video Conferencing with Deaf or Hard of Hearing Students (Instagram: listeningfun)
• A parent’s guide to distance learning and hearing loss (HearingLikeMe)
• Accessibility Strategies for Deaf/Hard of Hearing People in Remote Meetings (AGBell)
• Tweak common IEP accommodations for distance learning (Nine East Network Educational Consultant)
• Checklist for Teaching Deaf Students Online (National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes, Austin, TX)
• HearBuilder improves following directions, phonological awareness, auditory memory and sequencing skills from Pre-K to 8^th grade students through a step-by-step software learning program. (Paid, starting at $99 per year. Extended Free Trial until June 30, 2020.)
• Hearing Awareness with Adam (VOICE)