Not a deep insight, Just to add an example to the curb-cut effect I experienced that went from mild reluctance to enthusiastic acceptance.
Background: My son is hard of hearing (almost deaf). The health insurance paid for a system of microphones that connect to his hearing aid /CI and also to very high quality speakers in the back. The whole thing cost several thousands euros. The school also has really good acoustic panels in the ceiling (this schools admits one or two hard-of-hearing kids a year, out of about 120).
First reactions. Some teachers looked like "do I have to do this?" Meaning wearing the mic, learning how to use it. Other parents complaint in the fist parents meetings, asking "Why does my kid need to speak into a microphone?", presuming it is unnatural and it does not lead to good class discussion. "What about the shy kids?"
One month in, everyone loves it. The teachers love it because their voices get amplified with high fidelity. Students like that the system forces them to speak one at a time and everyone gets their turn. In addition, every child in the back can hear what the shy child in the front is mumbling when they contribute to class discussion. Overall, the learning experience is much better. So much better, that some teachers actually commented that they would like the system in every classroom. Without the hearing aid tech, such a system would cost about 2000 euros. But it cannot be installed, because the improved learning is unquantifiable and the insurance would only pay for it if there is a child with a hearing disability.
Not a deep insight, Just to add an example to the curb-cut effect I experienced that went from mild reluctance to enthusiastic acceptance.
Background: My son is hard of hearing (almost deaf). The health insurance paid for a system of microphones that connect to his hearing aid /CI and also to very high quality speakers in the back. The whole thing cost several thousands euros. The school also has really good acoustic panels in the ceiling (this schools admits one or two hard-of-hearing kids a year, out of about 120).
First reactions. Some teachers looked like "do I have to do this?" Meaning wearing the mic, learning how to use it. Other parents complaint in the fist parents meetings, asking "Why does my kid need to speak into a microphone?", presuming it is unnatural and it does not lead to good class discussion. "What about the shy kids?"
One month in, everyone loves it. The teachers love it because their voices get amplified with high fidelity. Students like that the system forces them to speak one at a time and everyone gets their turn. In addition, every child in the back can hear what the shy child in the front is mumbling when they contribute to class discussion. Overall, the learning experience is much better. So much better, that some teachers actually commented that they would like the system in every classroom. Without the hearing aid tech, such a system would cost about 2000 euros. But it cannot be installed, because the improved learning is unquantifiable and the insurance would only pay for it if there is a child with a hearing disability.