02/23/2026
For this 100th Black History Month, Play On Words Therapy is spotlighting Black innovators and creators who have shaped how children learn, play, and communicate.
This week’s focus is Communication & Accessibility.
James E. West is an inventor and engineer best known for co-inventing the electret microphone in 1962. This type of microphone is now used in phones, hearing aids, baby monitors, classrooms, recording devices, and everyday communication technology around the world.
West’s innovation made microphones smaller, more affordable, and more accessible, expanding how people speak, listen, and connect.
West’s legacy reminds us that when we improve access to sound and voice, we expand participation, learning, and connection for everyone.
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