Andrea Drummond, a certified Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TDHH) working in K-12 public schools in British Columbia, Canada, offers a deep dive into the intricate process of determining a student’s compatibility with TypeWell’s meaning-for-meaning transcription services.

In her district, a certified TDHH usually makes the pivotal decision about a student’s candidacy for such services. Andrea sheds light on the multifaceted evaluation method:

• Audiogram and Speech Perception/Word Recognition Scores.
• Functional Listening Evaluation (FLE): Utilizing tools like the Screening Instrument for Targeting Education Risk (SIFTER), which considers reading competency, and the Self-Assessment of Communication (SAC-A, developed by Schow & Nerbonne).
• Student Interviews: The TDHH usually has a longstanding rapport with the student, which often provides valuable insights into their preferences and needs. Andrea emphasizes the value of this relationship, stating, “In most cases, the TDHH already knows the student very well as they follow students K-12 throughout their education.”

“Understanding a student’s perspective is essential. Their feedback can often illuminate factors we hadn’t considered.”

• Demonstration for the student: By showcasing the service, students can express their feelings about its potential utility and any possible limitations they foresee.
• A trial of the services: Consisting of at least five classes with classroom transcription services, followed by a feedback session with the student.
• Functional Reading Screening: Using tools like the PARC Captioning/Transcribing Readiness Checklist or the Karen Anderson Speech-To-Text Readiness Checklist to understand the student’s capabilities.
• Reading Fluency and Comprehension Evaluation: Often done by the classroom teacher, tools like the Schonell Reading Test or the San Diego Quick Assessment of Reading Ability might be utilized.

While some benchmarks, like the 4th grade reading level, offer a general guideline, Andrea’s experiences suggest that many students might be ready for live transcription services by grade 6 or even later. However, this is just one perspective and not a rigid metric.

“Every student is unique. While certain benchmarks, like the 4th grade reading level, offer a starting point, the bigger picture requires us to delve into the nuances of individual needs.”

The versatility of TypeWell services ensures that students have a spectrum of options to choose from, tailored to their unique educational journey. TypeWell transcription is about more than just words on a screen. It’s about ensuring accessibility, understanding, and the empowerment of each student’s unique learning journey.

Andrea’s insights provide valuable information about one district’s approach, but the broader message remains universal: the importance of flexibility and individualization in educational transcription services.