Regional Day School Program for the Deaf

 
Welcome to the homepage of the Temple Independent School District Regional Day School Program for the Deaf (RDSPD) in Temple, Texas.
 
TISD and the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf are committed to providing appropriate individualized specialized services for children with disabilities who live in the Temple area. The RDSPD serves children in Temple ISD, Academy ISD, Belton ISD, Gatesville ISD, and Salado ISD, Bell County CO-OP (Holland ISD, Rodgers ISD, and Troy ISD) and Heart of Texas Cooperative for Exceptional Children. 
Eligibility for Services
As a student with an auditory impairment, a student (0-21 years old) must meet the following criteria:
  • Have a hearing impairment that is so severe that the child is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with our without amplification, and that adversely affects the child's educational performance, or
  • Have a hearing loss, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects the child's educational performance.
  • Have an educational need for specially designed instruction as determined by a multidisciplinary team based on a review of information provided by:
    • An ontological examination and
    • An audiological examination and
    • A communication assessment addressing the implications of the hearing loss for the student's hearing in a variety of circumstances.

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.

 
RDSPD Parent Resources
Each month the TISD RDSPD will send out a newsletter to parents of students served by TISD RDSPD. This newsletter will help you stay informed and provide information about our program and about resources to help your child.
 
You can find the most recent newsletter on the Parent Resource page under the "Monthly Newsletter" tab.  If you wish to be added to the newsletter email delivery list, contact [email protected]. You may also access the newsletters on Facebook at Temple RDSPD. We welcome your feedback and suggestions for what you would like to see in our newsletters.
 
Click on the link below to see our RDSPD Parent Resource Page, organized by topic, with helpful links to resources and information: 
RDSPD Campuses and Staff
RDSPD classrooms are located on the following TISD campuses:
 
Meridith-Dunbar Early Childhood Academy (MDECA)
Thornton Elementary 
Bonham Middle School
Temple High School 
Coordinator
Kristina Ford
 
Teachers
Karen Saluto- Parent Infant Advisor/Itinerant Teacher 
Joy Lohse- Itinerant Teacher 
Alison Massar- Meredith- Dunbar Early Childhood Academy
Janell Mosher-Thornton Elementary School
Katie Swann- Thornton Elementary School
Mallory Brown- Bonham Middle School
 
Interpreters 
Claudia Attaway- Thornton Elementary School 
Charleen Pokluda- Thornton Elementary School 
Monique Rice- Thornton Elementary School
Velva Randolph-Bonham Middle School 
Kristy Reding-Bonham Middle School 
Marvin White- Bonham Middle School
 
Communication Aides
Danita Delgado- Jefferson Elementary School
Andraya Scott-Harris- Thornton Elementary School
Heather Trojan- Thornton Elementary School