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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Shira Rhodes from Bronx, NY is requesting computers & tablets through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Shira Rhodes is requesting

Freedom of (through) Speech

Help me give my students a high tech device to help my nonverbal students communicate their needs and allow them to have a voice in the world.

FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Shira Rhodes's classroom raised $477

This project is fully funded

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

I am a Speech-Language Pathologist working in a special ed (District 75) school in Bronx, N.Y. I work with students from grades K-8. At my school, a majority of my students are Black and Hispanic. The rest of the students are Asian, White, American Indian, or Other Pacific Islanders. Almost all my students come from low, socio-economic backgrounds.

My students have a variety of disorders including medical, physical, and/or developmental and all of them struggle with speech and/or language disorders.

Additionally, many of my students are either non-verbal or minimally verbal.

My Project

Imagine not being able to speak and people around you can’t understand you. Would you feel frustrated? Angry? Irritable? Insecure? Isolated? Well, this is how many of my students feel everyday. Many of my students are either non-verbal or minimally verbal, leaving them feeling isolated and misunderstood by those around them.

In order for them to tell their family, peers, and teachers what they want and need, they use communication devices (AAC).

One of the common ones is dynamic display voice output device. To put it simply, it’s an iPad with a downloaded program (only available on Apple devices) that has pictures, and when activated, it says the word out loud.

These devices are my students voices; their way of asking (for something they want, need or for help), commenting, answering, rejecting, and socializing.

Although my iPad won’t go home with the students, it will allow me to use the communication device in school during their classes, for them to be a part of the classroom activity. If the student is really successful with it, the school might be able to provide one for the students to use at home.

Some schools with more means provide the speech therapist with a few iPads to use in therapy, but my school has extremely limited resources and cannot afford this.

Help me give my students a voice!

Ms. Shira Rhodes PS 186X @ PS 306 Grades PreK-2

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Bronx, NY View local requests

More than three‑quarters 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 1donor

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

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Apple - 10.2-Inch iPad (Latest Model) with Wi-Fi - 64GB - Space Gray • Best Buy Education $330.00 1 $330.00
SaharaCase Protection Kickstand Case - protective case for tablet • Best Buy Education $39.42 1 $39.42

Materials cost

$369.42

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$5.54

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$404.96

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$71.46

Total project goal

$476.42

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $476.42

1 Donor

-$476.42

Donations toward project cost

-$404.96

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$71.46

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

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

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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. Shira Rhodes and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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