Case Study · Utah Arts Academy
Delivering Independence Inside Every Building.
Utah Arts Academy was the first school in Utah to bring Hearsee into everyday use, giving blind and low-vision students a way to move through their own building without waiting on someone else to lead the way.
The Challenge and The Solution
A working school building, not a lab. The fix had to hold up in real hallways, real class changes, and a real Piano Lab.
The Challenge
Students who are blind or have low vision relied entirely on staff or peers to move between classrooms, the Black Box Theatre, and shared spaces. That meant less independence, more wait time, and fewer chances to explore the building, and the art in it, on their own terms.
The Solution
Hearsee mapped UAA's key spaces using adhesive RFID/NFC tags, no batteries, no wiring, paired with the Hearsee app and cane for turn-by-turn audio guidance. More than 170 tags were installed across two levels of the building, so navigation works throughout the school, not just along one showcase route. Students, staff, and visitors move through the building using the mobility techniques they already trust.
Inside the Deployment
The scope, the equipment, and how the system stays funded and maintained, at a glance.
Facility
A K-12 school built around the fine arts
Location
St. George, Utah
Coverage
The main building, Theatre and Piano Lab
RFID Tag
170+ RFID tags installed over two levels
Hardware
Two Hearsee canes provided to the school
Platform
The app and cane always work as one pair
Financed
Paid for by a local community fundraiser
Self-Run
Staff manage routes via the venue portal
The Results at Utah Arts Academy
What changed once the mapping was live.
170+
Installed across two levels of the building, allowing navigation throughout the school rather than a single showcase route.
Mapped
Key spaces across campus mapped for independent audio-guided navigation, including the Piano Lab expansion.
Independent
Students use audio guidance to move through hallways and shared spaces without a staff escort.
Included
Blind students can now explore the building's artwork and shared spaces alongside their peers, on their own pace.
Sustained
Staff shifted from constant guidance to occasional support, and Principal Drew Williams was trained on the venue portal so UAA can update routes itself.
Implementation Highlights
No Batteries, No Wiring
Hearsee's tags are adhesive stickers, not powered hardware, so mapping didn't require any construction or electrical work.
Staff Trained Twice Over
Staff completed both technical onboarding on the app and cane, and a separate training on interacting naturally and respectfully with blind and low-vision students and visitors.
Principal Trained on the Venue Portal
They can add, edit, or retire mapped routes and destinations directly, without waiting on Hearsee to make the change.
Funded by the Community
The UAA deployment was funded through a local community fundraiser, not a grant, reflecting the same community-built approach behind the product itself.
Technology That Makes It Possible
RFID Tags
The same short-range tech as a tap-to-pay card. A cane senses each tag, so the app always knows exactly where someone is.
Hearsee App
Manages the route and delivers clear, step-by-step audio direction.
Hearsee Cane
Pairs with the app to confirm location without changing how a student already moves.
Venue Portal
Lets UAA staff manage and update mapped routes themselves, after hours or as spaces change.
Growing With Utah Arts Academy
This isn’t a one-time install. UAA’s deployment has kept expanding since launch.
Now Includes the Piano Lab
Coverage expanded beyond the original mapped areas to include the Piano Lab, added as staff identified where students needed it most.
Continuity, Not a One-Off
The original student who used Hearsee at install has since moved on, and a student teacher who is also blind now uses the system day to day.
Next Up: A New Campus
UAA has plans to move to a newly built school that will be Hearsee-enabled from day one, mapped as part of construction instead of retrofitted later.
Explore Hearsee by Environment
Every environment has its own layout challenges, its own pace, and its own reasons GPS and signage fall short. Pick a category to see what Hearsee does there.
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Airports
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Gives travelers a way to reach their gate on their own timeline instead of on an escort’s timetable.
Ready to Talk
About Your Building?
Every deployment starts with a conversation about your building, your community, and what independence should look like in it.
