Services for Students Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
Overview of Services
Anne Arundel County Public Schools provides a continuum of services
for deaf and hard of students from birth to age 21. Teachers of
deaf and hard of hearing students provide specialized instruction to
meet the unique communication and language needs of their students
to enable them to participate in and progress in the general
education curriculum. Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists
provide related services to support the student in his /her
educational program. Services and educational program needs are
determined by the Individual Educational Program (IEP) process.
Accommodations and modifications, the use of assistive listening
devices, and /or interpreter/translator services may be required to
increase the student’s opportunities to access the general education
curriculum.
Eligibility
A current audiological evaluation is required to document that a
student is deaf or hearing impaired. There are different definitions
and terminology that you may see in identifying and defining hearing
loss. IDEA has two categories for which students with hearing loss
may be identified.
Deafness:
A hearing loss so severe that it precludes a child from processing
linguistic information through hearing with or without
amplification.
Hearing Impaired:
a hearing loss whether permanent or fluctuating, which is less
severe than deafness in which a child generally is able to access
sound and linguistic information through hearing.
A Student Evaluation Plan is developed and conducted by the IEP team
to determine if the hearing loss adversely impacts a student’s
educational performance and if the student requires special
education and related services
Philosophy
Services for deaf and hard of hearing students are determined by the
Individual Education Program process. Communication and language
are the areas of development most impacted by hearing loss. Anne
Arundel County Public Schools promotes the use of hearing aids and
assistive listening devices to develop oral and auditory skills to
the student’s maximum ability. Visual systems of communication such
as sign language or cued speech may be used to enhance communication
and access for some students as determined by family preference and
educational need.
Services
Teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students provide direct and
indirect services. They align their instruction with the general
education curriculum and support their students in the Least
Restrictive Environment.
Infants and Toddlers Program:
A teacher of deaf and hard of hearing students is available to
provide service to deaf and hard of hearing infants and toddlers
as determined by the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). Go
to Infants and Toddlers Program on this website for more
information.
Itinerant Services:
A teacher of deaf and hard of hearing students travels to the
student’s attending school a designated frequency of time as
determined by the IEP. This service delivery model is provided
to both students who are in community preschools and school age
children K-12.
School-Based Services:
Preschool and elementary age students who require intensive
services from a teacher of deaf and hard of hearing attend a
designated school. Within this model, students are given every
opportunity to participate in the general education curriculum.
Audiological Services
based at the Anne Arundel County Health Department are available
and include both clinical and educational audiological support
to students as determined by the IEP.
Speech and Language Services
are provided by the speech language pathologist at the students
attending school as determined by the IEP.
Sign Language Interpreter Services
are provided for students in the general education classroom as
well as extra curricular activities as determined by the IEP.
Other Special Services
such as occupational and physical therapy are available for deaf
and hard of hearing students when additional needs are
identified through the IEP process.
Resources
Blackboard