Regional Day School Program for the Deaf

Communication Philosophy

Temple RDSPD’s Communication Philosophy is designed to encourage each of our students to:

• • Develop communication for school, home, and community
  • Obtain literacy in the English language
  • Have appropriate access to the general education curriculum

Temple RDSPD staff respect a variety of communication options and the choice of the student and family. Receptive and Expressive language is documented and assessed multiple times a year to track overall language development and identify areas of concern. An individualized plan is designed to address receptive and/or expressive language and academic gaps, implementing research-based curriculums, strategies, and technology as necessary, to build a solid foundation for student success.

Access to language and instruction can be seen and used in a variety of ways:

• • Auditory/oral Communication – students utilize residual hearing, amplification technology, and speech
  • American Sign Language (ASL) – students utilize handshapes, palm orientation, location, movement, facial expressions, and classifiers
  • Conceptually Accurate Signed English (CASE) – students utilize ASL signed concepts in English word order
  • Signing Exact English (SEE) – students utilize a sign system that visually matches exactly what is spoken in English.
  • Interpreter Services – students utilize this service in a variety of settings

Language and academic growth is strengthened through the development of the whole child, encouraging self-advocacy skills, pragmatic skills, social skills, theory of mind development, and an overall positive concept of self.