Educational Service Guidelines for Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Educators have long been aware that identifying the educational needs of students who are deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH) and providing quality services, supports, and technology can be challenging. Due to the low-incidence nature of deafness, school districts face the challenge of finding resources to support their learners who are deaf/ hard of hearing. This document is intended to be a dynamic tool that will continue to develop and expand to reflect the most current research and best practices in the field.
With the goal of building capacity across the state and supporting local education agencies (LEAs), professionals and families throughout Ohio, the Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness (the Outreach Center) determined, that in order to build that capacity, some common language and guidelines would be useful. It is our hope this document will provide school districts insight on serving their students who are D/HH.
Ohio has a long history of educating students who are D/HH. The birth of the Ohio School for the Deaf (OSD) was evidence of Ohio’s early commitment to education for all children. The 1803 State Constitution states, “Religion, morality, and knowledge — and the means for instruction shall forever be encouraged by legislative provision.” (https://osd.ohio.gov/about/history). Formal education for students who are D/HH in Ohio began in 1829.
In 2004, the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW established the Center for Outreach Services at the Ohio School for the Deaf. The center worked to provide direct support to school teams, professionals and families throughout the state. While direct LEA support and evaluation continue to be provided by the Ohio School for the Deaf’s Statewide Services Department, in 2016, DEW established a new center, the Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness in partnership with OCALI to build capacity across the state to meet the needs of learners in their neighborhood schools.
Today, the Outreach Center works to increase access and equity for students, families, and communities through connections, resources, and supports. Building relationships, sharing resources, and reaching the community is instrumental as we strive to support students where they are, with what they need, when they need it - to learn, grow, and experience the good life.
This document was created after an in-depth review of several states’ educational guidelines. Networking, partnership, and collaboration are essential to building capacity, and the place to begin is with common knowledge and focus. This tool is meant as a guidance document for deaf education. It consists of standards addressing the following areas:
- Identification and Referral - focusing on child find, diagnosis, and eligibility for services
- Assessment of Unique Needs - matching the correct assessments, with trained professionals, interpreting data, leading to correct services for students
- Instruction and Learning - equipping professionals and support staff with the right knowledge, at the right time, to ensure the most inclusive learning opportunities for students
- Support for Instruction and Learning
- Parent, Family, and Community Involvement - focusing on living the best life with family and community involvement, looking at current experiences and those that follow after graduation
Developed in partnership with OSD Statewide Services, and led by Julie Stewart, Outreach Specialist in the Outreach Center at OCALI, and Cameron Crane, Statewide Services Coordinator at OSD, this tool includes 33 standards tied to specific outcomes for students who are D/HH, best practice guidance specific to those who are D/HH, and case examples to assist families and professionals as they navigate the educational complexities specific to this population of individuals.
Input was also gathered from a diverse mix of dedicated individuals throughout the state including parents, teachers of students who are deaf and hard of hearing (TOD), speech and language pathologists (SLP), educational audiologists, special education administrators, representatives from higher education, transition specialists, vocational rehabilitation professionals, and early intervention specialists. The Outreach Center team appreciates their time and effort.
The team specifically would like to thank Kevin Bohlin, program coordinator with New Hampshire Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education Services for providing permission to access and revise their Educational Guidelines for Deaf/ Hard of Hearing Students as we developed Ohio’s guidelines.
This document is designed to be a living document, and updates will occur when new regulations and/or changes occur. We welcome feedback. Please send your feedback to The Outreach Center at outreach_info@ocali.org.
Download the full version of Educational Service Guidelines for Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. This guide is designed to provide guidance for decision-making for educators and families.
