Teachers of the Deaf Program

Itinerant Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing

ESCNJ supports are provided through the utilization of certified Teachers of the Deaf (TOD), whose expertise is in helping meet the unique communication and learning needs of students on the continuum of hearing loss. Our itinerant teachers collaborate with local district teams and staff to provide DHH (Deaf and Hard-of- Hearing) students with appropriate educational services and support equitable access to learning within the public school programs. Our teachers support students with diverse needs and travel between districts, on a set schedule, to provide these supports.

DHH students can have vastly different abilities and needs.   The type and level of hearing loss, along with many other factors can affect a student’s language, literacy, and social development.  Teachers of the Deaf possess specialized training and knowledge to recognize these educational gaps.  They utilize specific teaching strategies and multisensory approaches to taylor instruction to address DHH students' individual needs.  We can support the acquisition and development of language skills through sign language, spoken language or a combination of both.

 

Teachers of the Deaf can provide the following services:

• Provide staff support and in-services addressing the effects of hearing loss on learning and instructional strategies that are effective in supporting these students.
• Provide observation/consultation services to districts to support identification of appropriate levels-of-service
• Provide instruction adapted to meet the individual needs of the students in their care 
• Provide academic support to improve a student’s grasp of curricular content.
• Provide auditory training to support functional listening skills 
• Support development of the IEP and identify appropriate accommodations and modification to ensure equal access.
• Empower students to advocate for their needs in academic and social settings
• TODs are familiar with various hearing assisted technology such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and DM/Bluetooth/remote microphone systems. They are able to perform listening checks to ensure devices are functioning and have basic troubleshooting skills to handle common issues.  (An audiologist may be contacted if more specialized knowledge or repairs are needed.)