About Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Specialized Instruction

A wide range of services are available to support students with hearing impairment in academic and social situations. These services include individual and small group instruction, sign language and speech training, and social skills coaching and monitoring. All specialized instruction is designed to meet each student's individual needs.

Technology Support

Students with hearing loss may be eligible for assistive technology.

Resource Rooms (Bend La Pine Schools only)

Resource rooms are available for deaf and hearing impaired students to provide services such as tutorial support, as well as complete subject instruction in collaboration with the regular education teacher. This specialized instruction may be provided individually or in small group settings.  Additional support may be provided in the areas of communication skills, interpreter services, deaf awareness and related needs.  Consultation and support is provided by the Deaf/HH Team to the general education teacher and other ancillary staff. Locations:

Eligibility

Deaf and Hard of Hearing services are available for children who:

•Meet State Eligibility Criteria for Deaf and Hard of Hearing;
•Have been evaluated by an Audiologist and a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing;
•Are age birth to 21;
•Reside in Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson (including the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs), Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler counties.
 

Evaluation

A highly trained audiologist is available to children attending public schools who have failed previous hearing screening(s). Teachers of the deaf/hard of hearing and the child's team use the audiological report and other assessments to determine eligibility.

Referral

If a child has previously failed a hearing screening, referrals to the ESD Audiologist can be made by physicians, parents/guardians and school staff, as well as early intervention and early childhood education programs.

Areas Served

Areas served include Deschutes, Crook, Wheeler, Jefferson, Harney, Gilliam and Sherman Counties as well as the The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Deafblind Services

Support for children with deafblindness and their families is available through the regional consulting deafblind teacher.  Consultation and support is also provided to the general education teacher and/or any other ancillary staff involved with developing and implementing a cohesive educational intervention program for the deafblind student.  Deafblindness is an "access to information" disability and the earlier supports can be put into place, the earlier opportunities to communicate and move can be established. A team approach developed as early as possible increases the child's chance to be an integral participator in his world.