Deaf & Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Washtenaw Deaf & Hard of Hearing Program
Charter Statement
“We believe in a strength-based and student-focused model of education that empowers children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing with resiliency, pride, integrity and self-advocacy. We are driven to implement evidence-based practices to promote the development of language and literacy (recognizing the critical period of birth to 3rd grade), collaborate as a team, embrace diversity, and ensure equal access to education so our students who have unique language and communication needs are provided the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
WISD provides a wide level of services to Deaf and Hard of Hearing students from throughout Washtenaw County.
Student Referral Criteria
Students are referred to the WISD D/HH services through the local districts. The referral is based on a select system of needs that the student exhibits in the areas of language and language processing, deficits in hearing and processing auditory language, incidental learning (visual or auditory), and deficits in common language for everyday experiences. Vocabulary development and knowledge deficits are assessed through the referral system, involving local district and WISD staff, along with the student’s parents. As students are affected socially and academically by these deficits, the assessment team examines these areas as well as (but not limited to):
- Deficits in learning new concepts and vocabulary (without frequent repetitions and visual aids)
- Difficulty in repairing communication breakdowns in social or academic situations
- High frustration levels (behaviorally) due to deficits in communicating effectively with others
- Limitations in self-monitoring use of expressive language (too loud or not loud enough for the situation)
- Exhibiting coping skills that limit understanding (nods head as if understands, even if lacks understanding)
- Information needs to be presented in various ways to ensure understanding
D/HH Classrooms
Classrooms are offered from the preschool through the 8th grade.
Classrooms are supported by:
- classroom assistants with knowledge and experience about students who are deaf or hard of hearing
- American Sign Language interpreters
- speech and language therapist specifically trained with extensive experience working with students who are deaf or hard of hearing
- social worker with experience working with students who are deaf or hard of hearing
- educational audiologist
- occupational therapist
- school psychologist
Classrooms provide services to the student based on their unique needs as determined by the IEP. This may include but is not limited to academics in all subjects and extensive language and vocabulary intervention.
Classroom locations:
1735 S Wagner Rd
Ann Arbor
Honey Creek Community Schools
(Charter school, authorized by the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and located in the High Point Building)
Classroom: Preschool-1 st grade classroom, (734) 994-8111, ext .1699
- Teacher: Caitlin Scollin
- Teaching Assistant: Krysta Spaulding
Classroom: 2nd grade-8th grade, (734) 994-8111, ext. 1623
- Teacher: Chelsi McKnight
- Teaching Assistant: Patricia Zalewski
- Teaching Assistant: Gina Ward
Support Staff
- Megan Breiner, PT
- Meredith Burke, SLP
- Jeannie Kunz, OT
- Mollie Richards, SW
- Catrina Nugent, Nurse
- Anita Vereb, Audiologist
Supervisor:
(734) 994-8100, ext. 1562
Office Professional:
(734) 994-8100, ext. 1600