You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
Donate
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Your school email address was successfully verified.

This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Huber from Gary, IN is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Huber is requesting
Fully Funded

Ms. Huber's classroom raised $988

iPod Alternative Communication for Non-Verbal Students

My students need two iPod Touch mp3 players to be used as educational tools, and alternative communication devices.

Classroom photo
Ms. Huber Lincoln Achievement Center
Gary, IN Grades 9-12

My Students

Imagine yourself being confined to a body with limited movement,and/or no ability to speak. You would be unable to make even your most basic wants and needs known to others. Imagine the frustration and pain this would cause. Many of my students have faced these challenges for years.

My students are middle and high school students with severe disabilities.

They are challenged by cerebral palsy, autism,communication disorders,Down's syndrome, and various other disabling conditions. The majority of them are non-verbal. They are attending a special school in an urban area where poverty abounds. These are beautiful loving individuals, who are often forgotten by the mainstream. Many people do not think that they can learn, and should not be attending public school. I know differently. I have spent most of the past thirty years working with this population. I can see intelligence in their eyes. I see their reactions to activities and social interactions. They laugh in all of the right places, during very sophisticated conversations. They know what is going on, but they can't easily participate. Many people turn their backs on them, and talk as though the students are not there. It seems that those who are unable to walk, or talk, are not important.

My Project

These iPods and the applications that have been created for them could open up a new world for these students. I did a great deal of experimentation last spring after I attended a conference presented by Apple. I purchased my own iPod Touch and brought it to school. The response was amazing. I was able to get applications that were made especially for autistic children. They were a huge hit. Autistic students seem to have a natural affinity for electronics. They were attracted like magnets each time I brought it out. There is an application that will turn the iPod Touch, or iPad into a picture based communication board that rivals devices costing $10,000.00 or more. My non-verbal students with some motor control will finally have a voice, literally. If they can push a button they will be able to speak. They will not be ignored any more! This should also eliminate some behavioral issues with my autistic students. Communication eases frustration.

I hope to use this project and my students'success to change public perceptions of disabled people.

I would like for my students to act as community ambassadors. I want them to be able to take these devices out into the public, and use them to speak to others as they have never been able to do before. I want them to be empowered by their ability to communicate. If I can prove that even one of these students can learn and achieve, I believe that I can open the door for many others.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than half of students from low‑income households

20 students impacted 3 donors
Ms. Huber Lincoln Achievement Center Grades 9-12

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Gary, IN View local requests

More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

20 students impacted 3donors

Boost your odds

Add a profile photo in addition to your classroom photo. If you add a photo, it'll show up right here on your project page.

You are more likely to receive funding if you put a face to your name.

Upload a photo

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Huber is requesting.

See our finances

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
COMPUTERS MP-3 DEVICES MP3 DEVICE - APPLE 8772081 • Best Buy $399.99 2 $799.98

Materials cost

$799.98

Vendor shipping charges

 $12.00

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$12.00

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$858.98

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$128.35

Total project goal

$987.33

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $987.33

2 Donors

-$987.33

Donations toward project cost

-$858.98

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$128.35

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

View complete list Show less

Project Activity

Project Activity
Back to top

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Huber and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":false,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"IN","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":4,"name":"High School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/ipod-alternative-communication-for-non-v/407924/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":20,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Ms. Huber","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"-1775987140","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Gary","teachersOnPage":[541318],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":407924,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"authorIds":{"541318":{"owner":"Ms. Huber","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[407924],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherHasProfilePhoto":false,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":42938,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["MTA5MDMy","MzQwMTM3"],"teacherId":541318,"schoolCounty":"Lake","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"IN","name":"Indiana"}}