Aural Diversity Toolkit Arup and the Aural Diversity Network have developed a toolkit to help designers create spaces and environments that meet the needs of everyone. This toolkit addresses the broader needs of those with aural sensitivities and provides a comprehensive set of recommendations, further research and other relevant aspects to consider to better inform […]
Inclusion
Autistic Students’ Sensitivity to Classroom Noise: Implications for Acoustic Design (and the) Impact of classroom noise on autistic students
This study is by Marco Caniato (Free University of Bozen-Bolzano and University of Applied Science HFT of Stuttgart), Federica Bettarello (University of Trieste), Arianna Marzi (Free University of Bozen-Bolzano) and Andrea Gasparella (Free University of Bozen-Bolzano) Inclusion of Additional Support Needs (ASN) sensitivities Students on the autism spectrum often experience heightened sensitivity to environmental sounds, which […]
Acoustic Design for Special Educational Needs (SEN) in Mainstream Schools
Acoustic Design for Special Educational Needs (SEN) in Mainstream Schools presented by Emma Greenland at EIAS2023. A review of the evidence base regarding acoustic design and special educational needs was undertaken. To answer the following questions on behalf of the Department for Education in England: What are the differing listening needs for students with different […]
Improving the acoustic conditions for children with special listening needs (Adrian James Acoustics, Internoise 2022)
As a veteran acoustician and the principal author of the UK acoustic standard for schools BB93, Adrian James has spent nearly three decades considering and influencing the role sound plays in classrooms. He notes that the Department for Education’s Advice on Standards for School Premises, 2015, for children with special listening needs (accessible here) is […]
Embracing Aural Diversity in Education through Universal Design for Learning
Classrooms the world over are filled with children that have a range of hearing conditions: from tinnitus and hearing loss to glue ear and noise sensitivity (hyperacusis). Meanwhile, schools claim to be “inclusive” without accommodating this aural diversity in any way. How can they achieve real inclusivity and accessibility by applying some of the core […]
Universal Design: Embracing Difference
In the 1970s, architects began to acknowledge that the people which inhabited the buildings they designed might depart slightly from da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man (pictured below). This movement, christened Universal Design [1], brought with it specialized ramps, doorknobs and other design features which anticipated that people from the broad spectrum of humanity should be able […]
Improved Acoustics = greater sense of inclusion + attainment
“We have seen that applying acoustic conditions that support SEN learning actually benefits everyone.” – Adrian James, AJA Acoustics and former BB93 author An optimal sound environment is a basic necessity if all students are to learn effectively. The modern classroom puts greater emphasis on group communication and collaboration which often increases the overall noise […]
Inclusive acoustic learning environment appreciated by the whole class!
Following a great response a few years ago after doing lectures about acoustics in learning environments at Comfort Audio’s four Academies in Denmark, Mai-Britt Beldam and Comfort Audio decided to do a project together – to find out what would happen if optimum room acoustics is combined with great hearing products for kids with hearing […]
Room acoustics and inclusion in schools – at DAGA 2014
Acoustics and inclusion: Knowledge from a British study on school acoustics and inclusion was what Holger Brokmann (Concept Developer – Education, with Ecophon in Germany) presented at DAGA 2014 in Oldenburg, Germany. The issue of “equal educational opportunities for all” is linked to the concept of inclusion, underpinned by legal requirements such as the Basic […]
