Dr. Debbie Pfeiffer
Specialist for Deaf/Hard of Hearing &
Blind/Vision Impaired
Virginia Department of Education
(804) 371 - 4059 Debbie.Pfeiffer@doe.virginia.gov

Ann Hughes
Technical Assistant for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Partnership for People with Disabilities, VCU
(804) 828-1342
awhughes@vcu.edu

Information for Parents of Children with Hearing Loss, A Resource Guide for Parents (English) (Spanish)

Educational Interpreting Services

NEW!! Revised Guidelines For Working With Students Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing In Virginia Public Schools

Demographics:

• Students: On December 1, 2005, 1,538 students, ages 2 – 22, received special education services in Virginia with a primary disability of hearing impairment/deafness; 486 students ages 2 – 22 received special education services with a primary disability of blindness/vision impairment. These figures do not reflect those students who may have a different primary disability and also have a sensory loss. Of the students who are deaf or hard of hearing, 1,411 were educated in local school divisions, 15 in the Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-Disabled at Hampton (VSDBM-H), and 112 at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind at Staunton (VSDB-S). Of the students with vision loss as their primary disability, 450 were educated in local school divisions, 11 at VSDBM-H and 25 at VSDB-S.
  
  
• Interpreters: In 2006-2007, there were 357 educational interpreters in Virginia schools. Of these, 150 met state qualification requirements of holding a Virginia Quality Assurance Screening Level III or IV or national certification (NAD Level IV, TEC Unit, RID, or NIC).

Qualification Requirements

• Teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing must meet the qualification requirements specified in the Virginia Licensure Regulations for School Personnel for Special Education – hearing impairments preK-12.
  
  
• Persons providing interpreting services to students who are deaf or hard of hearing must meet the qualification requirements specified in the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (2001). The qualification requirements specify that the individual shall hold a Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) Level III or IV, or national certification (NAD Level IV, TEC Unit, RID, or NIC). The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing administers the Virginia Quality Assurance Screening.

Educational Interpreter Training Grants

Since 1988-89, the Virginia Department of Education has provided grants to school divisions, community colleges, colleges and universities to provide training for persons providing educational interpreting services. The number of educational interpreters in Virginia public schools has increased from 281 in 2003 to 357 in 2007, with those meeting state standards increasing from 8% in 1989 to 42% in 2007.

American Sign Language as a Foreign Language

In 1998, the Virginia Board of Education approved the provision of three years of instruction in American Sign Language (ASL) for foreign language credit toward an advanced studies diploma. Courses to satisfy the requirements must follow the "Framework for Instruction in American Sign Language in Virginia’s Public Schools."

Superintendents Memo No. 1, June 12, 1998, Interpretive announced this policy. This memorandum stated:

"Local school divisions must make clear to parents and students that some, but not all colleges and universities accept ASL for foreign language credit. Parents and students should be advised to find out if ASL is accepted at the college or university for which admission is sought. School divisions offering three years of instruction in American Sign Language should include this information in all course of study documents."

The Licensure Regulations for School Personnel established an endorsement in American Sign Language.

Topics of Interest

• Candidacy for Cochlear Implants
• Caring for Sensory Devices
• Cognition and Language
• Communication Options
• Daily Hearing Aid Check Worksheet
• Degree of Hearing and Effects
• Development of Auditory and Speech Skills
• Interpreters
• Literacy and Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
• Room Acoustics
• Strategies for Teaching Math to Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
• Using the Relay System for Telephone and TTY Calls

Other links of interest:

Alexander Graham Bell Association the world's oldest and largest membership organization promoting the use of spoken language by children and adults with hearing loss.

American Society for Deaf Children organization of parents who are advocates for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Professional and consumer resources from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Contains a career FAQ and a glossary of terms

Auditory Neuropathy developed in an effort to provide access to information about auditory neuropathy to the parents of children diagnosed with this type of hearing disorder.

Auditory-Verbal International resource center for professionals and families which aims to promote the integration of children who are deaf or hard of hearing in regular classrooms.

Boys Town Center for Hearing Loss in Children Boys Town National Research Hospital's resource for parents of babies who have just been diagnosed with a hearing loss or for families of any child who is deaf or hard of hearing.

Combined Health Information Database from the National Institute of Health includes comprehensive list of almost 500 references on cochlear implants.

Hands and Voices Established by parents of Colorado Home Intervention Program supporting all communication options for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Galluadet University, working with children who are deaf worldwide.

Listen-Up! Specializing in information for the deaf and hard of hearing, and especially geared to the needs of hearing impaired children and their families.

National Association of the Deaf provides services and support for deaf individuals and their families. Includes local chapter links and articles.

National Cued Speech Association raises awareness of Cued Speech and its applications, provides educational services, assist local affiliate chapters, establishes standards for Cued Speech and certifies3 Cued Speech instructors and transliterators.

PEPNet (Postsecondary Education Programs Network) online training for 1.) students ages 14 to adult who are deaf or hard of hearing and preparing to transition out of high school and 2.) those serving college students who are deaf or hard of hearing (but great for those serving all ages)

Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia an association of over 700 audiologists and speech-language pathologists

Universal Newborn Hearing Screening - Virginia Department of Health The goal of Virginia's Newborn Hearing Screening program is to identify congenital hearing loss in children by three months of age and enroll them in appropriate early intervention by six months of age.

Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology The Board of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology oversees the laws and regulations that govern the practice of speech language pathologists and audiologists in Virginia.

Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing works to reduce the communication barriers between persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families and the professionals who serve them.

Virginia Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf the Virginia affiliate chapter of Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind at Staunton

Virginia School for the Deaf, the Blind, and Multi-Disabled at Hampton

Where Do We Go From Here? Support to parents of deaf and hard of hearing children. Information on hearing loss, deafness, communication.