Communication Through Technology

Written by Julie Harrison, CSDB Music Therapist

Students, in the School for the Blind's Expanded Core Curriculum Class, and students, in the School for the Deaf's Life Skills class, recently engaged in a unique social experience using technology. Prior to their meeting, the students in the School for the Blind dedicated time to mastering efficient and accessible speech-to-text apps to facilitate communication with their peers, who are Deaf. Simultaneously, the students in the School for the Deaf explored text-to-speech apps, ensuring their messages could be heard by their blind or low-vision counterparts.

During the social interaction, the students employed a cup passed back and forth, providing a tactile and visual signal for when their peer was ready for a response. The primary aim of this collaborative lesson was to empower students from both schools to communicate effectively even in the absence of an interpreter. Given that most of our students carry devices throughout their day on campus, integrating technology serves as an additional tool to foster accessible communication between the two schools.