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July 1, 2002 Alexander Graham Bell session, "Progress in Classroom Acoustics", Lois Thibault, U.S. Access Board, Kenneth Schoonover, International Codes Council, Louis Sutherland, Fellow, Acoustical Society of America, David Lubman, Fellow, Acoustical Society of America. Also included parents of hearing impaired children, Widget Richards, and Melanie Doyle.
My name is Widget Richards.
In 1997, alone, I petitioned the American Disabilities Act, the ADA, because my youngest son is deaf. I felt as a Mom if the ADA enforces wheelchair ramp installation for children with disabilities, that my child was being excluded from learning due to discrimination. He should be given equal access to learning by breaking down the barriers in the classroom through appropriate acoustical design.
This is the original petition I filed. If you read my petition, it is not perfect. It is a petition with my story.
I am the Mother of three children with disabilities, two of whom are hearing impaired.
Before I petitioned, I researched all the laws. I could not find anything . What got to me were/ARE the laws that exclusively addressed assistive listening devices. No laws addressed the architectural acoustics. Mike Nixon was the only source I found that was able to communicate to me the information I needed for success.
I filed the petition to the executive Director of the Access Board of the ADA in Washington DC, Larry Rafi.
Out of that petition , the Access board formed a working group for classroom acoustics, to develop a standard for classroom acoustics, including ASA and ABELL.
There is a card I have kept on my bulletin board that someone sent me in a moment of frustration while working alone, with a quote by Margaret Mead I would like to share. łNever doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed it is the only thing that ever has.
I am so excited to introduce a web site that captures the mission to empower all of us, parents, professionals, and interested advocates, to speak up for the children of our nation.
Because I started this alone, because I knew as a Mom, in my heart that this was right for my child. We ask you to look into your hearts to do what is right.˛
Sincerely,
Widget Richards
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