Guidelines for Working with Students Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Virginia Public Schools The Virginia Department of Education Department of Special Education and Student Services with The Partnership for People with Disabilities Virginia Commonwealth University Revised September 2019 Copyright © 2019 This document can be reproduced and distributed for educational purposes. No commercial use of this document is permitted. Contact the Virginia Department of Education, Department of Special Education and Student Services prior to adapting or modifying this document for non-commercial purposes. This document can be found at the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) website. Type the title in the “Search” box. The Virginia Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age political affiliation, veteran status, or against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities in its programs and activities. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................................... vi KEY TO ACRONYMS USED IN THIS DOCUMENT ......................................................... viii INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 1 Law and Regulations ............................................................................................................... 1 Terminology ............................................................................................................................ 1 Demographics .......................................................................................................................... 2 Unique Needs of Students Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing ............................................. 2 Language and Communication Options .................................................................................. 4 Additional Factors to Consider ................................................................................................ 5 Cultural Diversity ............................................................................................................... 5 Emotional Health ............................................................................................................... 5 Cognitive Development ...................................................................................................... 5 SERVICE PROVISION .............................................................................................................. 6 Identification ........................................................................................................................... 6 Family Education and Intervention ......................................................................................... 7 Referral .................................................................................................................................. 10 Evaluation .............................................................................................................................. 11 Deaf Norms ...................................................................................................................... 12 Assessment Domains ............................................................................................................. 13 Audiological Assessment.................................................................................................. 13 Communication/Language Assessment .......................................................................... 15 Developmental Assessment .............................................................................................. 16 Educational Assessment .................................................................................................. 16 Psychological Assessment ................................................................................................ 17 Eligibility ............................................................................................................................... 18 IEP Development .................................................................................................................. 19 Placement .............................................................................................................................. 20 PERSONNEL ............................................................................................................................ 23 Staff ....................................................................................................................................... 23 Collaboration ......................................................................................................................... 24 ii Related Services .................................................................................................................... 24 Educational Interpreters .................................................................................................. 24 Team Interpreting.......................................................................................................... 25 Other Roles ................................................................................................................... 25 Qualifications ................................................................................................................ 26 Spoken Language Facilitators......................................................................................... 27 Notetakers ......................................................................................................................... 28 Substitute Personnel .............................................................................................................. 29 Professional Development ..................................................................................................... 29 Teacher Licensure ................................................................................................................. 30 TECHNOLOGY........................................................................................................................ 30 Hearing Aids .......................................................................................................................... 30 Cochlear Implants .................................................................................................................. 31 Auditory Brainstem Implants ................................................................................................ 32 Assistive Listening Devices .................................................................................................. 33 Checking Assistive Listening Devices ............................................................................. 33 Assistive Technology ............................................................................................................ 34 CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION ................................................................................... 35 Access to the General Curriculum ......................................................................................... 36 Facilities and Spaces ............................................................................................................. 36 Acoustic and Visual Characteristics................................................................................ 36 Instructional Strategies and Methodologies .......................................................................... 37 Incidental Learning ......................................................................................................... 38 Developing Background Knowledge ............................................................................... 38 Family Involvement ......................................................................................................... 39 Direct Instruction ............................................................................................................. 39 Differentiated Instruction ................................................................................................ 40 Authentic Assessment ...................................................................................................... 40 Literacy .................................................................................................................................. 40 Comprehension of Text .................................................................................................... 41 Expanded Core Curriculum ................................................................................................... 42 Secondary Transition ............................................................................................................. 43 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................... 46 iii APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................... 50 Appendix A ..........................................................................................................................