Comment NumberOL-100472
Organization
Received05/29/2005 10:10:45 AM
Commenter
First NameLast NameState/Province
RuthAndersonWA
AgencyU. S. Department of Justice
Docket IDCRT Docket No. 2004-DRS01
RuleNondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in State and Local Government Services; Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities
AttachmentsNo Attachments

CommentsAnswers to Specific Questions

General Comments
2002 ANSI Standards for Acoustics in Educational Settings defined the necessary criteria for children with auditory problems to access verbal instruction.All children in the classroom have the challenge of listening to comprehend information presented verbally while in the presence of inappropriate levels of background noise or reverberation. Listening is a primary gateway to learning and we can acknowledge that inadequate classroom acoustics can provide a clearly identifiable learning barrier. Educational environments that have inadequate acoustic conditions can cause irreparable erosion of achievement for children with hearing loss by preventing them from accessing verbal instruction equally to their peers with normal hearing. Ability to achieve in the classroom is related directly to the ability to access verbal instruction, therefore classroom acoustics is a vital consideration when determining the need for accommodations and specialized instruction that a student with hearing loss will need for success. Make classroom acoustics an ADA issue!