In the Regional Deaf Education Program, students are exposed to a bimodal-bilingual, language-rich environment. Instruction in American Sign Language (ASL) and English is provided, and social interactions with deaf role models are encouraged and facilitated. Parent engagement is an important component of the program. The Regional Deaf Education Program provides access to special and general education classes on an integrated school site with interpreting support and specialized instruction based on individualized student needs. Students have opportunities for social interactions with both hearing and deaf peers and staff.
The language-rich environment of a bimodal-bilingual Deaf Education Program plays a crucial role in mitigating language deprivation in the following ways:
Access to Multiple Languages: By providing a bimodal-bilingual approach that incorporates both English and ASL, students in the program have access to multiple languages. This ensures that they have the opportunity to develop language skills in both spoken and signed modalities, enhancing their overall language development and communication abilities.
Language Enrichment: The Deaf Education Program focuses on creating a language-rich environment where students are immersed in meaningful language experiences. Teachers, Speech and Language Pathologists, and other professionals provide explicit instruction, modeling, and support in English and ASL. Through engaging activities, discussions, and interactions, students are exposed to and encouraged to actively use both languages, which enriches their linguistic abilities.
Language Identity: In a bimodal-bilingual environment, students' use of both English and ASL is celebrated. Students are encouraged to express themselves in the language(s) they feel most comfortable with, fostering a sense of identity and belonging.
Academic and Social Engagement: The language-rich environment of a bimodal-bilingual Deaf Education Program promotes active participation and engagement in academic and social settings. Students have opportunities to develop language skills across various subjects, engage in discussions, collaborate with peers, and express their ideas and thoughts effectively.
Regional Deaf Education Program Staff
Teacher of the Deaf
Supports students' educational and language development in English and ASL. They possess specialized knowledge and skills to meet the unique needs of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Here's how a Teacher of the Deaf supports students in the program:
Bimodal-Bilingual Instruction: The Teacher of the Deaf delivers instruction in both English and ASL, recognizing the importance of a bimodal-bilingual approach. They create a language-rich environment that promotes the acquisition and development of spoken and signed languages. They use a variety of instructional strategies, visual aids, and technology to facilitate comprehension and communication.
Language and Literacy Development: The Teacher of the Deaf focuses on fostering students' language and literacy skills. They provide explicit instruction in vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and pragmatics in both English and ASL. They facilitate activities and discussions that encourage expressive and receptive language growth. Additionally, they support students' reading and writing skills in both modalities, adapting instruction to meet individual needs.
Curriculum Adaptation: The Teacher of the Deaf modifies and adapts the curriculum to make it accessible and meaningful for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. They ensure that instructional materials, resources, and assessments are appropriate for bimodal-bilingual learning. They collaborate with other educators to create inclusive learning environments where students can actively participate and engage in all subject areas.
Social and Emotional Support: Recognizing the importance of social interaction, the Teacher of the Deaf fosters a sense of belonging and community within the classroom. They promote positive peer relationships and facilitate opportunities for social interactions between hearing and deaf or hard-of-hearing students. They also provide support to address any emotional or social challenges students may encounter, promoting self-advocacy and resilience.
Collaboration and Communication: The Teacher of the Deaf collaborates closely with speech and language pathologists, educational audiologists, and other professionals to ensure a holistic and integrated approach to student support. They actively communicate with parents and families, providing updates on student progress, discussing strategies, and involving them in their child's education.
Assistive Technology Integration: The Teacher of the Deaf incorporates assistive technology tools and resources into the learning environment to enhance students' access to information and communication. They are knowledgeable about devices such as FM systems, captioning technology, and visual aids, and support students in effectively utilizing these tools.
Individualized Instruction: Recognizing that students have diverse learning needs, the Teacher of the Deaf provides individualized instruction and support. They monitor progress, adjust instruction as needed, and provide additional support or accommodations when necessary.
Speech and Language Pathologist
Provides specialized services to students who are deaf or hard of hearing and are learning English and ASL simultaneously. Here's how a Speech and Language Pathologist supports students in the program:
Language Assessment: The Speech and Language Pathologist conducts comprehensive assessments to evaluate students' expressive and receptive language skills in English and ASL. This assessment helps identify specific areas of strength and areas that may require additional support.
Individualized Intervention: Based on the assessment results, the Speech and Language Pathologist addresses each student's language needs. They provide targeted therapy sessions focusing on improving vocabulary, grammar, syntax, pragmatics, and overall language development in both English and ASL.
Auditory Training: For students with residual hearing or who use hearing devices like cochlear implants, the Speech and Language Pathologist incorporates auditory training into therapy sessions. They work on developing auditory skills, such as discrimination, identification, and comprehension of spoken language.
Phonological and Articulation Skills: The Speech and Language Pathologist supports students in developing accurate phonological and articulation skills in spoken English and ASL. They provide guidance and practice for producing sounds and improving speech intelligibility when appropriate.
Collaboration and Consultation: The Speech and Language Pathologist collaborates with teachers, parents, and other professionals to ensure consistent language support across different educational settings. They provide consultation and guidance on incorporating language strategies and accommodations to promote optimal communication outcomes for students.
Assistive Technology: In collaboration with the educational team, the Speech and Language Pathologist explores and recommends appropriate assistive technology tools and resources that can enhance communication and language development.
Educational Audiologist
Educational Audiologists provide specialized services to students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Here's how an Educational Audiologist supports students in the program:
Assessment: Interpretation of audiological results and consultation with parents, students, special education staff, classroom teachers, and other school personnel.
Collaboration and Consultation: collaborates with educational staff and families regarding strategies and accommodations to address students' educational needs.
Monitoring and Support: monitoring hearing equipment, hearing levels, auditory behavior, and functional performance with and without hearing equipment such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and hearing assistive technology. Monitoring students' ability to use hearing and hearing equipment in the classroom, including analysis and recommendations regarding the listening environment.
Educational Interpreter
Facilitates effective communication between students who are deaf or hard of hearing and those who use spoken English. Here's how a sign language interpreter supports students in the program:
Access to Spoken Language: The Educational Interpreter ensures students have full access to spoken language. They listen carefully to the spoken English being used in the classroom and accurately interpret it into ASL for the deaf or hard-of-hearing students. This enables students to understand and participate in class discussions and other spoken language interactions.
Language Mediation: The Educational Interpreter acts as a bridge between English and ASL, mediating the communication between deaf or hard-of-hearing students and their hearing peers or teachers. They convey information accurately, maintaining the meaning, tone, and intent of the spoken message in their sign language interpretation.
Classroom Instruction: During classroom instruction, the Educational Interpreter ensures that students have real-time access to all spoken information, including lectures, discussions, and instructions. They interpret the spoken content into ASL, allowing students to follow along, understand concepts, and actively engage in the learning process. The Educational Interpreter may also voice the signed messages of deaf or hard-of-hearing students for the benefit of hearing peers or teachers.
Clarification and Adaptation: The Educational Interpreter assists in clarifying and adapting complex or abstract concepts from spoken English into ASL. They use their knowledge of both languages to convey information in a way that is visually clear and accessible to students.
Individual Support: In addition to classroom interpreting, the Educational Interpreter may provide individual support to students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
