Our Early Start Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) educational program provides home and center-based services to children with a diagnosed hearing loss whose families choose a listening and speaking approach or a signing approach.  Our Specialists also provide support to families and staff with students who have additional needs aside from hearing loss, and families who are transitioning between these communication modalities. It can be very overwhelming deciding on a communication modality soon after a diagnosis.  For those families we support them by providing choices and resources with an unbiased opinion.

We also offer a DHH Parent Group that meets every 4th Friday of the month.  Link here to view the flyer.

If you have any questions, please contact Erika Lopez at 562-907-6359 or erikalopez@ewcsd.org.

Submit a referral.

We provide an integrated model of speech therapy.  The speech service is provided inside the classroom where play routines and peers can be utilized to increase the child’s motivation.  We see this as best practice and the most effective way for toddlers to learn language. The classroom schedule is highly language based and the child’s speech/language skills are supported throughout the time they are at school. The Speech Pathologist also runs a speech only center based class for children who are only demonstrating delays in this area. 

JUMPSTART

Home Program: (typically for children 0-12 months, but can be accessed by families of older students) with an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher (ECSE).  The teacher works with the parents, once a week for 60 minutes, within their naturally occurring routines in the home, to address the needs of the child. Family coaching is the focus of these sessions. Speech therapy consultation is also available once per IFSP, but we are not able to provide direct speech therapy to these students. 

Center-Based: Families are offered a twice a month class in the center with other families, for one hour each session, as an opportunity to interact with other parents and children in a play-based approach.  Speech therapy consultation is also available once per IFSP, but we are not able to provide direct speech therapy to these students. 

CATERPILLAR PROGRAM

Center-Based Services: an opportunity for children 12-24 months as a parent participation Toddler and Me class.  We offer one hour weekly sessions (Fridays at 10:30-11:30AM) with ECSE Specialists and 5-10 other families. Our speech pathologist joins these classes providing small group speech therapy, 2 times per month for 45 minutes per session.

Home Program: visits continue 1-2 times per month, an individual parent coaching. 

BUTTERFLY PROGRAM

Center Based Services: available for children 24-36 months. Classes are offered two times per week, 2 hours per session with an ECSE Specialist. Parents can choose to stay or leave their children.  If the parent is continuing to attend with the child at 2 ½ years of age, they are encouraged to begin the separation process as a transition step to prepare for a preschool setting. There are 3 students in these classes, with a teacher and 1 assistant.  Our speech pathologist joins these classes providing small group speech therapy, 1 time per week for 45 minutes per session.

Home Program: Butterfly families continue to receive a once a month individual family contact that focuses on parent coaching.