"Although there are ways, such as sign language or lip reading, of making human speech accessible to people with hearing impairments," Lewis says, "I do not know of any ways of accomplishing this for music."
I suggested to her that hearing impaired students could be allowed to fulfill certain Core areas using distribution requirements. This would allow a student to take classes such as Music Ar: "Musicianship" or Music la: "Introduction to Music I," to fulfill the Lit. and Arts B requirement.
But as Lewis noted, the 1996-97 Courses of Instruction description of Lit. and Arts B is "Courses in music that seek to develop a sensi- Is this an unwieldy task for the hearing impaired According to Lewis, it is nearly impossible. "The Literature and Arts B section of the core is intended to provide instruction in the elements of visual and aural literacy," she says, emphasizing that "listening is a significant part of that process in a music Core course as it is in departmental course in music." Lewis said the College goes to great lengths to meet the needs of disabled students. The University pays individuals to transcribe lectures for the hearing impaired. It also commissions readers for the blind, and in some instances, will renovate dorm rooms to fulfill the special needs of disabled students. "There are a range of handicaps that get accommodated," says Lewis, "This is a part of the institution that most students don't see, but that does a lot." While Fong emphasizes the lengths Harvard goes to in accommodating the special needs of students, she says she is frustrated by the fact that she is cannot feasibly take opera or some other music courses. "I think that Harvard has already been incredibly accommodating and is providing all the aides that I might want or need, and since Lit. and Arts B encompasses art and architecture classes too, I don't find the range of courses too narrow," says Fong. "But if a music history class were to be offered," she adds, "that would be nice.