The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department is one of several special education programs that are an integral part of Northern Secondary School, which offers one of the widest ranges of courses in the Toronto District School Board.

In the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department, students are taught in self-contained classrooms and receive instruction from trained teachers of the Deaf. While integrating the Ministry guidelines, each student is assessed individually and an IEP is created to develop and meet their specific needs.

Integration

Students are provided with the opportunity to select courses outside of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department with services provided by ASL interpreters and Education Assistants. They can choose courses based on their motivation and ability to handle the subject material.

Each year, educators are provided with strategies to accommodate our students in order to better facilitate their education. This is accomplished through workshops, printed information and one on one discussion.

After Graduation

Most students spend 4 to 5 years in our program. The individual goals of the students help to direct which path they will follow after graduation.

Every year, our graduating students decide to enter the workforce, to attend community college, to participate in an apprenticeship-training program, or to enter into a Deaf upgrading program, for example at George Brown College. Additionally, some students have pursued education at the university level, enrolling in such institutions as the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and Gallaudet University, and various universities in the Toronto area.