The Burbank Unified School District and Foothill SELPA operate the regionalized program for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. The program serves deaf and hard of hearing students from Burbank, Glendale and La Canada Unified School Districts as well as Pasadena, as per a Memo of Understanding. The program is a co-enrollment model where students are co-enrolled with their hearing peers.
The Preschool/Kindergarten program is a reversed mainstreamed classroom where two-thirds of the children are deaf or hard of hearing and one-third of the children are typically developing, hearing children who have deaf siblings or deaf parents. The ration is strictly adhered to throughout the school year. Specific admission criteria are used in order to enroll hearing children into the program. The curriculum is based on the Montessori philosophy, or a “child centered approach” so that children are able to learn academics in an environment that is rich in language and structure. The Pre-K program also focuses on developing the responsibility and independence that students need to have to successfully participate in the co-enrollment or in a mainstream setting.
Teachers who are dually credentialed (Regular Ed and DHH credentials) teach in grades 1 through 5 in the general education classroom. From constant exposure to sign language during the day, hearing students in these classrooms often become fluent signers and communicate directly with the deaf and hard of hearing students. All students are working on the standard grade-level curriculum. Some students require modifications to the grade level work while others are working at or above grade level. Speech and language and audiology services are provided on the school site along with other support services which are determined through the IEP process.
Students are mainstreamed with the support of a DHH teacher, co-teaching in a general education class with a regular education teacher or with an interpreter for all subjects. Students who require additional support have access to the RSP and SDC programs, including a DHH/SDC class where a DHH teacher provides direct instruction for all core subject areas.
Students are mainstreamed with the support of a DHH teacher, co-teaching in a general education class with a regular education teacher or with an interpreter for all subjects. Student who require additional support have access to the RSP and SDC programs that are provided for other special education students. We also have an DHH/SDC class where a DHH teacher provides direct signed instruction for English, Math, Writing and a Community Based Instruction (CBI) program.
For more information about the DHH Program, contact:
Patty Ivankovic, DHH Program Specialist
E-Mail: pattyivankovic@burbankusd.org
Video Phone: 818-558-2011