Clarke offers deaf and hard of hearing resources to help children succeed alongside their peers with typical hearing in school.
Clarke’s itinerant teaching service puts an experienced teacher of the deaf at a neighborhood school several times a week to offer assistance to both the student and the teacher. For many students who are deaf or hard of hearing, this personal attention is critical to success. The itinerant teacher’s expertise in hearing loss and its effect on the learning process ensures that any academic or social challenges students face are noticed and addressed immediately. Itinerant teachers observe students in class so they can offer meaningful consultation to teachers. Having an itinerant teacher involved in a student’s program helps put the student, the classroom teacher, the student’s entire school team and the other children at ease so they can all focus on what’s important – learning and growing together.
Mainstream News
Clarke publishes Mainstream News online three times per year (fall, winter, spring) as a resource for educators and families.
Most public and private schools in the United States have had little direct experience with students who are deaf or hard of hearing. When a school is unfamiliar with hearing loss, hearing aids, cochlear implants and other assistive devices commonly used by these students, it can be difficult to anticipate the students’ unique needs, both academically and socially. A mainstream consultant, who is a trained and experienced teacher of the deaf, provides support and training to school professionals, caregivers and students through a variety of personalized services which incorporate specific strategies to enhance each student’s communication access and success. Mainstream Services will work with a school’s team to create a customized consulting model that works for that school and the students it serves. Consultants are also available to do a one-time program evaluation and provide deaf and hard of hearing resources.
Progressing from a specialized program, like those available at Clarke, to a mainstream school is a very exciting time for each child and family. Mainstream Services helps families lay out a set of steps to follow and offers support and guidance to both students and families during this important time of change. Once a school is chosen, a mainstream consultant begins to prepare the staff of the school to receive the student and is available to provide ongoing support through our itinerant services. But it can also raise a lot of questions:
- What is the best placement for my child?
- What kind of support services will my child need?
- How do we educate our child’s teachers and classmates about hearing loss?
- What do we do if something unexpected comes up?
Families form partnerships with Clarke’s experienced mainstream staff to create a supportive team dedicated to the success and development of each child.
Individualized support for students
Optimized learning environment
Training and coaching for educators and administrators
Family guidance
Ashton
Meet six-year-old Ashton, a bright and creative student who has been part of the Clarke community since he was two.
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Noah
A proud student in Clarke's Preschool and Early Elementary Program, Noah wears both a hearing aid and CROS device to...
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Coraline
Coraline is a vibrant six-year-old in Clarke’s Early Childhood Program who lights up every room with her smile and energy.
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