Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Program
Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) provides a continuum of services for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (HOH) students, from birth to 21. As related service providers, Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing can provide specialized instructions to meet the unique communication and language needs of their students. These specialized instructions will enable them to participate in, progress and achieve success in WCPS curriculum.
WCPS provides all audiological services through certified staff in collaboration with audiologists based upon the individual needs of students and required services within their IEPs or 504 plans.
Services and educational programming are determined by the IEP process. Deaf and HOH students who are not eligible for an IEP can receive accommodations for their hearing loss under a 504 plan.
Eligibility:
A current audiological evaluation is a required document to identify a student with a hearing loss. There are four categories where a child may be eligible for services:
Deafness
Hearing impaired
Deaf-blindness
Multiple disabilities (in which hearing loss is one)
The IEP team will look at the student’s academic performance in the classroom, speech and language assessments, educational assessments and audiological evaluations. These will be used to determine if the hearing loss adversely impacts a student’s educational performance and if the student requires Special Education and Related Services.
Services:
Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf and HOH students provide direct and indirect services as a Related Service. Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf and HOH collaborate with staff and families.
Contact:
Dr. Annette Walters (Special Education Coordinator): 301.766.8758
Stacey Furhman (Clerical): 301.766.8217
Deb Carbaugh (Clerical & Interpreter Coordinator): 301.766.2969
Mary Smith (Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing): TTY: 301.791.7052; VP: 1.240.329.2085
Julie Pierpont (Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing): 301.766.9042
Sign Language:
WCPS’ Family Support Resource Center offers a Fall Beginner’s Sign Language Class and in the spring, Intermediate/Advanced Sign Language Class. For more information, call 301.766.8221.
Local community colleges often offer sign language classes, too.
Other:
Maryland School for the Deaf-Frederick Campus
101 Clarke Place
P.O. Box 250
Frederick, MD 21705
Maryland School for the Deaf-Columbia Campus
PO Box 894
Columbia, MD 21044-0894
Governor’s Office for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
