A question frequently asked by parents of newly identified deaf and hard of hearing children is, "where can I find an educational program for my child?"
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: a few months
Here's How:
- Check with state education departments. Most will have deaf schools or mainstream and center programs listed under special education.
- Check with state commissions or agencies for the deaf and hard of hearing. They will usually have this information on hand.
- Check out these profiles of schools for the deaf. Also see this comprehensive listing of schools for the deaf that have websites. There may be a deaf school within a reasonable distance from your home.
- Get a copy of the American Annals of the Deaf annual reference issue, which has information on schools and programs in the United States and Canada.
- Post your question on the discussion forum under Parenting and Education.
- If you are seeking an oral program, check the Oral Deaf Education web site.
- If you are seeking a Cued Speech program, contact people in the Cued Speech community.
- Try the organizations American Society for Deaf Children or Hands and Voices.
- If you live in a rural area, KidsWorld Deaf Net has a paper online, "A Look at Rural Families Weighing Education Options."
- If your child has mental health/emotional issues, the article on Mental Health and Deafness has some suggested resources.
- Another option to consider is homeschooling.
Tips:
- Be persistent. Somewhere there is a program that is right for your child.
- Be flexible. Relatively few places offer all three - oral, total communication, and cued speech.
- Talk to parents whose children have attended the program you are considering to find out how their child did and whether their child's needs were met.
