Educational Philosophies:

There are many options to consider in deaf education:

Ninety percent of Deaf children are born into hearing families, and most are not diagnosed as deaf until age 2-5 years old. They tend to have little to no language exposure (spoken OR signed) during their first years of life, causing a language development delay. Learning to read and write standard English is often a struggle for deaf students.

Deaf children (especially those with physical and mental disabilities) need direct instruction beginning as early as possible in order to teach them language and literacy skills. Several educational approaches are currently being used to teach deaf students:

 

Bilingual-Bicultural: American Sign Language is the only language used in the classroom. English is learn through exposure to printed materials.

Auditory/Oral: No sign language is used. English is learned through residual hearing (listening) and speech.

Total Communication: English is learned through auditory and visual exposure. A variety of sign systems may be used - Signed English, ASL, a combination of signed communication modes, speech and sign language used simultaneously, cued speech, etc.

 

Communication Modes:

	American Sign Language
	Manual Codes for English
	Cued Speech

 

 

 

Learning Environments:

	Residential Schools for the Deaf
	Day Schools
	Early Intervention & Preschool Programs
	Mainstreaming & Inclusion
	Self-Contained Classrooms
	Home School Environment

 

 

Overview

 

Deaf Linx was updated on 06/22/2007