The pandemic-related lockdown and social distancing have highlighted the usefulness and versatility of remote learning. Unfortunately, not everyone has enjoyed its benefits equally. Students with hearing and/or vision loss have been hampered by remote-learning technology’s lack of adaptation to their needs. A recent article in The Tech Edvocate discusses how remote-learning educators can accommodate students who require sensory learning accommodations. 

Tools and Other Resources

Just a few ways in which teachers and schools can improve communication and learning outcomes for hearing- and vision-impaired students include:

• Using Pedagogue, a social learning management system with which educators can organize and oversee teaching materials online. Pedagogue gives students a central location for schoolwork and offers video conferencing and audio chat capabilities for active engagement in virtual lessons with classmates and teachers. 
• Providing Braille textbooks and syllabi to students with vision loss, so they can follow along in real-time with students who can use the textbook and see the board during and in between classes.
• Hiring teachers proficient in sign language to enhance virtual lessons for students who live with hearing loss. In addition, Zoom, which has become a popular online platform for both work meetings and virtual classes, now offers closed captioning and transcription services.

These changes can be even be implemented at the university and college levels for older students who experience traumatic or latent loss of sight or hearing. 

Soliciting Parental Input

While it feels good to have a toolbox for solving problems, the first step in problem-solving is being aware that a problem exists. Sometimes students, regardless of age or grade level, don’t feel comfortable admitting that they are having difficulty understanding the class material, and are hesitant to tell their teachers that they could use some help. Sometimes those students who feel uncomfortable talking to their teachers about their learning challenges will feel more comfortable speaking with their parents. 

Teachers should make it a point to communicate with their student’s parents or guardians and solicit their input regarding student struggles, whether they’re due to hearing loss, vision loss, or another learning challenge. It’s important for teachers to know when students are struggling, so they can help them catch up. Teachers want students to thrive and are happy to seek out and make necessary accommodations to ensure their students’ success.

*Lynch, M. (2021, Sep. 13). Solving Remote Learning Struggles for Students with Hearing or Vision Loss. The Tech Edvocate. https://www.thetechedvocate.org/solving-remote-learning-struggles-for-students-with-hearing-or-vision-loss/