Regional Day School Program for the Deaf

Ector County Regional Day School Program for the Deaf (RDSPD)
 

Coordinated Through the Ector County Independent School District, Odessa, Texas
Providing educational services for scholars who are deaf and hard of hearing from Ector County ISD and nearby districts through shared services agreements.

Our RDSPD Program Serves Students:

• Birth to 22 years of age
• With hearing difference that significantly impacts the development of language and/or performance in school
• From more than 15 school districts in West Texas, including:

            Andrews ISD
            Big Spring ISD
            Buena Vista ISD  
            Coahoma ISD
            Crane ISD
            Ector County (Fiscal Agent)  
            Forsan ISD 
            Fort Stockton ISD 
            Glasscock ISD
            Grandfalls-Royalty ISD
            Grady ISD 
            Greenwood ISD 
            Iraan-Sheffield IS 
            Kermit ISD 
            McCamey ISD 
            Midland ISD       
            Monahans-Wickett-Pyote ISD 
            Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD 
            Rankin ISD 
            Reagan County ISD 
            Stanton ISD 
            Wink-Loving ISD

Highly Specialized Staff
Our Regional Day School staff includes a variety of specialists knowledgeable in educating scholars with hearing losses.

Our staff includes:

• Certified Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
• Certified Sign Language Interpreters
• A Speech Therapist, Diagnostician and Supervisor experienced in serving hearing loss students
• Teaching Assistants

Some audiological services are provided through contracts with local licensed audiologists.

Transportation is provided by local school districts.

Providing A Variety of Services:

• Parent /Infant Advisor provides in-home training and support for parents of young children from birth until three years of age who are deaf/hard of hearing.
• A pre-school program for three to five year old students who have a hearing loss.
• Sign language ISEE classes are offered for parents, staff and the community annually.

Wide Range of Classroom Services

• Many scholars are mainstreamed into regular classes with or without interpreters, as needed.
• Special small classes with certified teachers of the deaf, from pre-school through high school, are common.
• Scholars take a combination of special deaf education classes and general education classes as appropriate.

Communication Philosophy
The communication needs for each child are determined by the Admission/Review/Dismissal (ARD) committee based on assessment. Scholars are provided access to communication and are helped to reach their potential through:

• Intensive language development
• Speech therapy
• Use of amplification and auditory training
• Use of sign language as needed (Signing Exact English is used)

Referral Process

• Referral is usually by home district
• Infants with hearing loss are also referred by the Texas Early Childhood Intervention Agency, pediatricians, hospitals, audiologists, family members and others.
• Scholars are assessed by the home district prior to enrollment. The RDSPD can assist with this assessment as needed.
• Scholars are assessed in depth every three years after enrollment in the program.