Deaf Education
The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program serves students who are deaf or hard of hearing and require specialized instruction and support to access the curriculum. Services may be provided in a variety of settings depending on the student’s individual needs, including self-contained classrooms, resource support, or through collaboration in general education classes. Our teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing provide instruction focused on communication development, language acquisition, auditory training, and academic skills aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Additional supports may include sign language interpreters, amplification systems, and consultation with general education staff to ensure appropriate accommodations and modifications. The goal of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department is to equip students with the communication, academic, and self-advocacy skills needed for success in school and beyond.
RDSPD Cluster Site Services
Centralized, specialized classrooms where Deaf and Hard of Hearing students learn alongside peers who share similar communication needs. Certified teachers of the deaf provide direct instruction, custom communication access—ranging from American Sign Language (ASL) to Listening and Spoken Language (LSL)—and a language-rich environment designed to foster academic, social, and emotional growth. Campuses are Oak Meadow Elementary, Jackson Middle School, and Churchill High School.
DHH Itinerant Services
Specialized support delivered directly to students in their neighborhood general education classrooms. Itinerant teachers of the deaf or hard of hearing travel to local campuses to provide targeted supplemental instruction, assist general education staff with accommodations, monitor hearing technology, and ensure students have full visual and auditory access to the curriculum.
DHH Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Services
Family-centered, home-based support for infants and toddlers (ages 0–3) identified with hearing loss. Specialists partner with parents and caregivers in their natural environment to foster early communication skills, language acquisition, and developmental milestones during the critical early years of learning.
Deaf Education Resources
Common Abbreviations
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
AI: Auditory Impairment
ALD: Assistive Listening Device
ASL: American Sign Language
CI: Cochlear Implant
DHH: Deaf or Hard of Hearing
ENT: Ear, Nose, and Throat Physician (Otologist, Otolaryngologist)
HH: Hard of Hearing
HI: Hearing Impairment
dB: Decibels
LSLS: Listening and Spoken Language Specialist
TC: Total Communication
Contacts
Shauna Abrego