Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Unit is an independent branch of the Student Services Division at Hiram G. Andrews Center (HGAC). Staffed by a counselor, evaluator, interpreters, and a life skills tutor, the unit provides support services for deaf and hard of hearing students.

The staff of the HGAC Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Unit will strive to empower students who are deaf and hard of hearing to maximize their employment, economic self-sufficiency, independence and integration into society.

 

We commit to respectfully serve the students and their families, the staff and community of HGAC by ensuring total communication access while providing counseling, evaluation, interpreting, independent living strategies, assistive technology and tutoring services.

An essential part of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Unit, interpreting is provided in all classes in which deaf students are enrolled. Interpreting is also provided for doctor's appointments and extra curricular activities such as student council meetings, sporting events, and other evening activities. Interpreters may also serve as tutors for students in the various training programs. All interpreters and educational coaches are certified in ASL.

Educational coaching is an optional additional support in the classroom. The educational coach works closely with the instructor, counselor and student to reinforce job appropriate behaviors and socialization as well as job skills. This approach has proven successful in lessening the common social and communication obstacles that students who are deaf or hard of hearing face while learning/working in a mainstream setting.

Preparing students for their areas of specialization, as well as remedial programs in Reading, Math, English, and Life Skills, are the components of this remediation program. Students learn the technical vocabulary and signs for their major areas of study.

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services staff at HGAC strongly believes that competency in independent living skills is essential to successful employment. Each student participates in a survey of independent living skills. An individual life skills tutoring program is then developed, based on the student's needs as determined by the survey. Information on TTY and relay services use, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the sign language interpreter's role are emphasized. Hands-on activities are used to reinforce this important information. Deaf staff, as role models, also reinforces this important area of independence and problem solving.

The Center for Assistive and Rehabilitative Technology (CART) may provide an evaluation for each deaf or hard of hearing student in order to assess his or her individual needs for adaptive equipment. After such needs have been identified, CART will make this equipment available to students on a temporary basis. Some examples of equipment provided include: TTYs; FM Systems; Flashing Light Alerts; Alarm Clocks with flashing lights or tactile signals. In addition to the initial evaluation, CART provides ongoing instruction and monitoring for students making use of adaptive technology to ensure that the equipment truly meets the students’needs.