Tulare County Office of Education

Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Linda McKean
Administrator, Mild to Moderate Programs
(559) 730-2910, Ext. 5141
(559) 733-6314 TTY
lmckean@tcoe.org

Deaf and hard of hearing children in Tulare County have several educational options. Children ages 0 to 36 months are served in the Bright Start Parent/Infant Program. Preschool-age children are served by their local school districts. Children who are in grades K through 6 may be served in a regionalized program located in Tulare offered by the Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) or they may attend their neighborhood schools. From seventh grade on, students are served by their local school districts or they may attend Fremont School operated by the California Department of Education.

Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Students who are enrolled in the regionalized program in Tulare are educated in general education classrooms along with hearing students. Each class is taught by a general education teacher. Deaf and hard of hearing students are supported by an interpreter assistant under the direction of a teacher of the deaf. Direct instruction for language arts is provided by a teacher of the deaf and supported by interpreter assistants as appropriate. (If a child is being served by a district program, needed supplemental services are provided by the district.)

In addition to the academic program, the educational program includes development of skills in speech, lip reading, listening, sign language, and other specialized areas as required. Speech and language services are provided by, or under, the direction of a language, speech and hearing specialist.

Audiological services for all Tulare County students are provided by a full-time, certified audiologist. Complete hearing testing and monitoring are ongoing. Personal amplification devices are provided to supplement each student's own amplification system. An itinerant teacher of the deaf monitors amplification systems, collaborates with general education staff, and provides direct services to students as outlined on the Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Total communication, as implemented by the TCOE program for the deaf and hard of hearing, facilitates development of speech, lip reading, listening skills, sign language, and finger spelling. This approach provides each student the opportunity to expand and refine the ability to communicate with hearing as well as deaf persons.

The focus of the educational program for the deaf and hard of hearing in Tulare County is to provide students with a supportive environment that reinforces positive behavior and accomplishments, develops the skills necessary for effective communication, prepares students for the demands of secondary and post secondary education, and develops a solid foundation for successful employment as adults.

Audiology Referral Form
(for use by school personnel)

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