Sometimes you need to go with the flow! A lesson plan for being aware of the differences around us. ET 640 MaryClare Doerfler

“Going with the Flow” by Claire H. Blatchford Mark, a fifth grader, is nervous about attending his new school. He thinks that everyone is staring at his hearing aids and talking about him and how he has an interpreter. Just as he is about to give up, he finds that when he plays basketball with some of his classmates, he doesn’t feel so different.

Before they read… Think of a time when you felt different or out of place. What did you feel? Why did you feel that way? What made it okay?

What does the term disability mean to you?

A disability means that you cannot perform an activity or task in the way many think as “normal.” A disability could be a physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment mental illness, or type of chronic disease

About the author Claire H. Blatchford -born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Connecticut -became deaf at the age of six because of a case of mumps -attended regular schools and graduated from Bennington College- -studied at Gallaudet University, the Waldorf Institute for Liberal Education, and Teachers College -lives with her husband in northwestern Massachusetts and works at the Clarke School for the Deaf -author of several books on being deaf, as well as her books on inner sight Information found at

After reading… Describe why Mark has a hard time his first day of school.

Furthering the reading… Objectives: 1.To provide students with information regarding deafness and hearing impairments. 2.Help students develop an understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities.

What do you know about how we hear?… While watching the following video, look at the location of the outer, middle, and inner ear. How hearing works.

FACTS About 800 million people around the world have a hearing impairment. By 2015, it is excepted that 1.1 billion people will have a hearing impairment. Majority of people with hearing impairments are school age. Facts found at

You just can’t hear like other people. In “Going with the Flow,” Mark could not understand the names of some of his peers. He thought Keith was calling himself TEETH. Commonly hard to understand consonants and sounds for people with hearing impairments are P / K / F / H / T / Sh / S

Hearing Impairments: An activity. Use the following links to fill in your graphic organizer. Does a hearing impairment always mean you can not hear at all? What is one common misconception that kids with hearing impairments deal with all the time? Click on movie camera icon to check out a simulation of this misconception. Name three tips for communicating with someone who has a hearing impairment. “You just can’t hear what other people hear.” Click here to hear what hearing loss can sometimes sound like. Name and describe three types of hearing impairments. What is the name of the health professional that specializes in diagnosing and treats hearing impairment?

Question/TopicWhat you found Does a hearing impairment mean you cannot hear at all? What is one common misconception that kids with hearing impairments deal with all the time? Name three tips for communicating with someone who has a hearing impairment. Name and describe three types of hearing impairments. What is the name of the health professional that specializes in diagnosing and treats hearing impairment? What do you think would be must difficult about hearing differently then everyone else? *Printed as a worksheet

Lets discuss! In our story, Mark felt like people treated him unfairly at school. What does fair mean to you? How does the word fair connect to the word disability?

Something to think about… Fair?

Assistive Technology What do they mean to you? Assistive Technology

Assistive technology is technology used by individuals with disabilities in order to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. AT can help provide people with hearing impairments an equal and fair opportunity!

What forms of assistive technology and accommodations did we come across in “Going with the Flow?”

Assistive technology and accommodations for people with hearing impairments or deafness: things we came across in “Going with the Flow” TTY(TTD) Telephone Hearing Aids Interpreter Sign Language

What is TTY? TeleTYpewriter also known as text display device (TDD) A TTY conversation is typed and read, rather than spoken. If one person does not have a TTY, calls can be placed through a free state relay service. Lots of cell phones today are TTY compatible! See if your cell phone is by checking your phone options under settings.

What’s available? Q-90 TTY –New! Offers direct connect and is cell phone compatible. –Can be charged in a car through an adapter in your dashboard. –Easy to carry with you anywhere, just like a cell phone!

Check out more TTY devices at the following websites: B/CTGY/resource-tty ssibility/Assistive.html

Hearing Aids How do hearing aids work? Three Main Components: 1.MICROPHONE – picks up sound waves from the air and transforms them into electrical signals 2.AMPLIFIER – makes the sounds from the microphone louder 3.LOUDSPEAKER – sends the amplified sounds to your ear Two Main Styles: 1.BTE – Behind The Ear 2.ITE – In The Ear *for people over 10 because your ears are not growing as fast! Information found at ngAidsWork/_Index

FM Systems Frequency Modulated Systems Wireless systems that transmit sound from one person to another Can overcome the effects of noise and distance Have two parts: 1. MICROPHONE and TRANSMITTER that is worn by the speaker or placed in the middle of a group 2. RECEIVER worn by student through hearing aids or earphones Can be used with computers, televisions, and MP3 players!

Use the link below to watch a video about how FM Systems work. n/products/fm/what_is_fm.html

Hearing Aids and FM Systems Activity With your partner, find information on the products offered for children and teens from the company’s website you were assigned. Create a 4-8 slide PowerPoint describing three different products. Phonak e.html Octicon

A real life stories… Click here to read what Jessica, a 17 year old high school student, has to say about her hearing aids! Click here to watch an interview with Justin Osmond talk about how hearing aids and technology have improved his life!

American Sign Language In the story, “Going with the Flow,” Mark used ASL to communicate. Language that you speak with your hands. When communicating with others using ASL, remember facial expressions are very important! Interesting Fact: ASL leaves out words like: and, were, was, them, and they Watch the ASL alphabet! Xg&feature=related Xg&feature=related

ASL Activity! With your partner, visit and practice signing your own name and asking your partner to sign their name. When you are finished practice making a statement or asking a question using ASL. sign/

A very unique tool… an interpreter! An interpreter serves as a tool in allowing students with hearing impairments to communicate! What must an interpreter be able to do? 1.LISTEN to the speaker’s words. 2.UNDERSTAND the speaker’s intention. 3.COMMUNICATE using ASL. Information found at and

Think About It! How would you feel if you had an interpreter with you at school? Describe both negatives and positives.

Apps and YouTube?! YouTube with on-screen captions! –As of March 4, 2010, YouTube uses Google’s voice- recognition software for the videos downloaded. Ipod Touch and Apps! -SoundAMP – an application that can function as a hearing aid for people with some hearing capabilities. Users can capture audio and adjust volume, as well as, repeat audio. -iSign – an application that has 800 animated ASL gestures! Great for practice with ASL! Hearing aid technology is also improving each day!

Do you think if you should not like the same things if you have a hearing impairment or if you are deaf? Everyone likes music! Everyone can have fun! More music in ASL!

“Kids…can make the world a better place -- if they only understand.” on115.shtml