Continuum of Educational Choices

There is a continuum of educational options for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Parents take part in determining what’s appropriate for their child or children in the way of educational programs available to them. What follows is a capsule look at the continuum.

To obtain information and educational services for your child, contact the special education director of your local school district, your intermediate School District or the Michigan Department of Education in Lansing at (517) 373–0923 (voice) or (517) 373–9434 (TTY). To locate an Intermediate School District, see our directory to the right of this page.

Upon receiving a request for evaluation, your local school district will determine your child’s eligibility for special education services.

An Individual Educational Planning Committee (lEPC), which includes the parents, will review the individual needs, establish the goals and objectives, and to determine the appropriate programs and/or services. The program may be operated by your local school district or contracted with another school district or agency, with transportation provided. It should include the services of a certified teacher of the hearing impaired. The IEPC will be reviewed annually or sooner by request of parents or educators to meet the changing needs of the child.

Michigan offers a continuum of educational programs and ancillary services that are provided as determined appropriate by the lEP committee.

Continuum of Educational Programs

• Early Intervention programs for infants and pre–school students
• Regular education classroom with supportive services
• Resource room, with part–time regular education
• Self–contained classroom, full or part–time, in regular education building
• Center programs in regular education building
• Day school program in separate building
• Residential school program

Ancilary Services

• Audiology
• School Social Work
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech/Language Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Teacher Consultant
• School Psychology for the Hearing Impaired

The continuum of educational programs may include various communication modes, such as

• American Sign Language
• Manual Codes of English
• Auditory Oral
• Visual Oral

Additional support services may be part of the student’s program; such as:

• American Sign Language
• Interpreting (oral or sign)
• Auditory/Oral Instruction
• Notetaking
• Auditory Training/Assistive Listening Equipment
• Real–time Captioning
• Manual Codes of English
• Auditory Oral
• Visual Oral
• Captioned Video Materials
• Telecommunications/Computer
• Cued Speech
• Other Services as deemed Instruction/Transliterating appropriate by the IEP Committee

Your child’s educational rights are protected by both Federal and State Laws. Federal Law P.L. 101–478, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for all students with a disability. Michigan Law P.A. 291 of 1995, the Mandatory Special Education Act, requires special educational programming be designed to develop the maximum potential of all eligible students from birth through age 25 or graduation. IDEA also mandates educational programming be provided in the student’s Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). The IEPC must consider recommendations. Additionally, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires a barrier–free communication environment. For more information about the Michigan Special Education Administrative Rules, contact your local school district or the Michigan Department of Education.

For further explanation of your child’s educational rights and options, contact your Intermediate School District or any of the following agencies:

• Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf
  V (202) 337–5220
  TTY (202) 337–5221
  E–mail: agbell2@aol.com
  http://www.agbell.org
  
  
• Michigan Chapter of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf
  (616) 771–3070
  V/TTY (313) 961–7078
  http://www.miagb.org
  
  
• American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC)
  V/TTY (800) 942–ASDC (2732)
  E–mail: asdc1@aol.com
  http://www.deafchildren.org
  
  
• C.A.U.S.E. (Citizen’s Alliance to Uphold Special Education)
  V/TTY (517) 886–9167 or (800) 221–9105
  E–mail: dcanjaisom@causeonline.org
  http://www.causeonline.org
  
  
• Consortium for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
  V/TTY (800) 622–6730
  
  
• Division on Deafness and Hard of Hearing – Michigan Family Independence Agency
  V/TTY (517) 335–6004
  V/TTY (877) 499–6232 “Toll free”
  FAX (517) 335-7773
  VP 866-939-3853 or IP DODHH.NET
  E–mail: dodhh@michigan.gov
  http://www.mcdc-dodhh.org
  
  
• Early On/Project Find
  V/TTY (800) Early On (327–5966)
  V/TTY (800) 252–0052
  E–mail: earlyon@earlyon-mi.org
  http://www.earlyon-mi.org
  
  
• Michigan Association for Deaf, Hearing and Speech Services
  V/TTY (517) 487–0066
  V/TTY (800) YOUR–EAR (968–7327)
  E–mail: yourear@pilot.msu.edu
  http://www.madhs.org
  
  
• Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service
  V/TTY (800) 288–5923
  http://www.mpas.org
  
  
• Michigan Supervisors of Public School Programs for the Hearing Impaired
  Call Michigan Department of Education
  V (517) 373–0923
  TTY (517) 373–9434
  For phone number of local contact.
  
  
• National Association of the Deaf
  V (301) 587–1788
  TTY (301) 587–1789
  E–mail: nadinfo@nad.org
  http://www.nad.org
  
  
• Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc.
  V (301) 657–2248
  TTY (301) 657–2249
  E–mail: National@shhh.org
  http://www.shhh.org