Deaf/Hard of Hearing Programs: Elementary & Middle School

The CAPS Education Collaborative for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students is a special education program for hearing and language impaired students. Presently, there is an elementary program and a middle school program. (A high school program will be developed as the need arises.)

At the elementary level there are five students who range in age from five to nine years old. The D/HH staff includes one teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, instructional assistants, and a sign language interpreter. The D/HH program utilizes a regular size classroom that is necessary to meet the range of learning needs in a variety of group configurations, including 1:1 instruction. Multiple learning centers are located throughout the room to provide a variety of instructional opportunities. Individual staff members accompany students from the program who are integrated into general education classes.

At the middle school level there are two students supported by one teacher of the D/HH and an educational interpreter/tutor. These particular students are mainstreamed for all academic subjects and electives. The teacher of the D/HH provides consultation to the teachers and direct instruction to the students as needed. This teacher also provides consultation and program planning for students with behavioral needs at the elementary level.

All staff communicate by using American Sign Language as well as oral communication with sign support. In addition to a language intensive program ,students also receive itinerant services, such as Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy as needed. Extensive Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) are written to meet the needs of each student and to guide staff in the individual learning plan that must be implemented.

Student accommodations are explicitly stated in their IEPs. The accommodations are specific to the student's degree of hearing loss and language impairment; the nature of the student's disability; medical interventions such as cochlear implant; and behavioral intervention programs that are necessary.

The CAPS Director is directly responsible for the D/HH program. The director and staff work collaboratively with each school administration.