Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech’s Philadelphia site will relocate to Saint Joseph’s University’s Hawk Hill campus, providing opportunities for experiential learning and interprofessional programming between both institutions. A renovation of 5414 Overbrook Avenue will provide a customized space for Clarke students to learn and play.
Clarke’s mission aligns with Saint Joseph’s programs in special education, deaf and hard of hearing education (MS), communication science and disorders (BS) and early childhood/elementary education (BS, MS), and the University’s plans to launch a graduate program in speech and language pathology in coming years.
Clarke Philadelphia’s future home at Saint Joseph’s Hawk Hill campus will include multiple preschool classrooms, a sensory room, speech therapy spaces, an early intervention suite and outdoor play space.
Clarke’s space at 5414 Overbrook Avenue will be shared with Saint Joseph’s staff members and will be newly renovated to provide families with a robust continuum of LSL services from the early weeks of infancy all the way through high school graduation.
In addition, the University’s community of undergraduates and graduate students will gain access to practicum placements and a national research partner. Clarke’s refreshed, secure, collaborative space will draw the best and the brightest LSL professionals-in-the-making who are seeking mission-driven work.
“We look forward to exploring mutually beneficial programming in the coming months when the Clarke joins us on Hawk Hill.” said Joshua Power ’05, ’16 (EdD), dean, School of Education and Human Development. “This partnership expands opportunities for SJU students to participate in experiential learning while serving the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community at Clarke.”
Possibilities could include student-teaching placements, classroom presentations and observation, or development of a speech clinic. The partnership is also an opportunity for the two schools to jointly address the national teacher shortage.
“There’s also a shortage of teachers of the deaf, and those students who are exploring early education, communication disorders and speech language pathology are often the students who, if they know that becoming a teacher of the deaf is a career opportunity, will explore it,” explained Judy Sexton, head of programs and schools and interim president at Clarke.
There are no changes to current programs and services for Clarke Philadelphia families. As we look ahead, this partnership ensures the highest level of customized programming for the hundreds of Philadelphia-area children with hearing loss and their families. Clarke will share additional information about the relocation timeline as the project unfolds.
