WEBSTER, New York, September 14, 2023 — If there’s one thing Ashly Audio is passionate about, it’s sharing the magic of music with everyone, including those who face unique challenges. To further this mission, Ashly Audio joined the S.H.O.W. program, to create an inclusive environment for students with special needs to learn about the audio industry while equipping them with skills to succeed in professional environments.

In 2013, Susan Goff joined Students Have Opportunities to Work/Student Hands on the World(S.H.O.W.) as a Special Education Teacher. Located in Wayne County, New York, S.H.O.W. ‘s mission is to provide special needs students in high school with the skills needed to be as independent as possible in their personal and professional lives. S.H.O.W. partners with companies to provide students the opportunity to gain a variety of hands-on experiences.

Soon after Goff had joined the organization, she proposed the idea of partnering with the company her husband worked at the time as an engineer, Ashly Audio. S.H.O.W.’s mission, coupled with Ashly Audio’s commitment to strengthening its community, made this partnership the perfect match. Led by Mike Sanger, Production Manager at Ashly Audio,  the team created a curriculum for S.H.O.W’s students called #JamOut, which allows students to experience the roles and responsibilities that build a business.

“We have been fortunate to collaborate with Ashly Audio since 2013 to provide an authentic work site in which our students, who, with the support of a S.H.O.W. aide, are completing real tasks in a real work environment,” Goff shared. “Mike [Sanger] has worked to provide tasks that our students learn to complete, thus growing in ability and confidence. Our students are also included in company celebrations, which is always a highlight.”

Over the past ten years, students have been able to join the Ashly Audio team every week, where they perform a range of tasks, such as configuring boxes, assembling buttons into switches, or helping with materials. The program aims to ensure each student feels that their task contributes to the company’s operations while offering valuable learning experiences.

“The students really are a part of the Ashly Audio team. We, of course, strategically provide them with tasks so they can learn how to assimilate into the workforce, ” Sanger explained. “However, we rely on them as well. Our goal is for students to experience the profound sense of fulfillment that comes from knowing that every task they undertake plays a vital role in the operation of a company’s daily function.”

Ashly Audio is committed to sharing the role of audio in bringing a community together by creating captivating sound experiences. Whether diving into the layers that create audio technology or the importance of teamwork, the program has become a source of joy for both the students and Ashly Audio staff, forging connections and creating impactful exposure.

“S.H.O.W. is an opportunity for Ashly Audio to exercise its commitment to empowering students with special needs by fostering their creativity, confidence and unlocking their potential,” added Noel Larson, General Manager at Ashly Audio. “The passion and energy I have witnessed from JAM/exertis, the Ashly Audio team, S.H.O.W. and the students have continued to reaffirm our belief in the transformative power of music and the beauty of inclusivity.”

About Ashly Audio

Ashly Audio, a Division of Exertis | JAM, is a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality, high-performance signal processing equipment and power amplification for use in the commercial sound contracting and professional audio markets. The company is headquartered in Webster, New York U.S.A. For more information:

www.ashly.com