What constitutes a good DHH program

rockdrummer said:
Does anyone know of specific mainstream schools that have what is considered good DHH programs. Is there a national list?
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Not sure if there is a national rating list....but maybe try Googling self contained programs for the deaf?
 
I know my ASL instructor is fascinated by Spanish River High School in Boca Raton, FL. They have an extensive DHH program. It seems that all teachers know ASL and all hearing students are taking ASL classes so that they can get their foreign language requirement out of the way, but mostly because a lot of their friends are deaf or hoh. They put on a Deaf Idol program once a month where all of the songs are signed and they are then voted on like American Idol contestants. They seem to have blast with it each year. All assemblies and such are interpreted and all the kids are just really into helping each other get the best education possible. I am hearing that all schools in the Boca Raton area are beginning to adopt this type of model for their schools and the whole of the Palm Beach County School District is trying to do as well. That is why we have so many of the teachers in my ASL class and each of the ones offered by my local Deaf Service Center. Palm Beach Community College (soon to be Palm Beach State College) has no openings left in any of their ASL courses or Deaf Culture classes. It's phenomenal around here these days. More and more businesses are also getting in on the bandwagon.
 
n.
However, you will find many, many more self contained programs than magnet programs. Self contained programs are the norm in the public system if there is a separate program at all.

"Just hoh" kids tend to miss out on one hell of a lot of academic material, not to mention socialization, in the mainstream.
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Oh very true.....and I do agree with just hoh kids missing out on a lot of academic material as well as social issues too!
 
KristinaB said:
I know my ASL instructor is fascinated by Spanish River High School in Boca Raton, FL. They have an extensive DHH program. It seems that all teachers know ASL and all hearing students are taking ASL classes so that they can get their foreign language requirement out of the way, but mostly because a lot of their friends are deaf or hoh. They put on a Deaf Idol program once a month where all of the songs are signed and they are then voted on like American Idol contestants. They seem to have blast with it each year. All assemblies and such are interpreted and all the kids are just really into helping each other get the best education possible. I am hearing that all schools in the Boca Raton area are beginning to adopt this type of model for their schools and the whole of the Palm Beach County School District is trying to do as well. That is why we have so many of the teachers in my ASL class and each of the ones offered by my local Deaf Service Center. Palm Beach Community College (soon to be Palm Beach State College) has no openings left in any of their ASL courses or Deaf Culture classes. It's phenomenal around here these days. More and more businesses are also getting in on the bandwagon.
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That sounds like a great program.
 
This was the high school I went to: Highland High School. Crappy site design, but eh, this was the best school that could support the D/deaf and hard-of-hearing.

I graduated from there in 2006. I see that the teachers have changed since then, some stayed, most are gone and probably replaced. I'd need to visit the school to know for sure.

They have interpreters available for those who mainstream. (I did.)
 
Re: the split placement that DD constantly refers to.....looks good on paper. Getting a school system to actually agree to split placement is a different story. There aren't many willing to do so under the high school level, and generally not until the student is a jr. or sr. And then it is most often a split placement between the deaf school and a voc school.
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Really? That does kind of suck. Why are schools resistant to a split placement?
I have seen some students in preschool and kindergarten do a "split placement"
 
Makes a lot of sense, and the way the IEP is supposed to operate. Unfortunately, far too many times, it doesn't. Mainstream teachers and administrators tend to lump rather that look at the individual student when considering placement.

Re: the split placement that DD constantly refers to.....looks good on paper. Getting a school system to actually agree to split placement is a different story. There aren't many willing to do so under the high school level, and generally not until the student is a jr. or sr. And then it is most often a split placement between the deaf school and a voc school.
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I don't understand that. In most public schools, In LD classes, some kids stay there for some classes, but go to a regular classes on other subjects. (although, there are some who stay full time) why can't D/HH do the same?
 
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rockdrummer said:
I know that many people would suggest that to get a good deaf education that one must attend a deaf school. However I have to believe there are good DHH programs at some of the mainstream schools or at least I hope there are. I was wondering what are the elements that one would look for to help determine if a particular school has a good DHH program. Things like;
Bilingual-BiCultural approach, Least Restrictive environment etc. etc. Since I am not an expert in this area I was wondering if you all could share your experiences and what you think would make a program good or even bad for that matter.

Thank you for your time..

RD
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I think it is very hard to find information on DHH program. I do know that there is a high school near where I live that has it. I was offered it when I was in middle school, but my mother said no. She didn't like the location of the high school for one of the reason (it was city school, and she didn't want me get in involve in drugs or something) , and she wanted me to keep mainstreaming .
 
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