Deaf Schools in Pittsburgh

By Sara Baines-Miller | Posted on: January 31, 2020

Black background with DePaul School colors in a linear design. A tag line that says "Listening and speaking since 1908" is at the bottom

When it comes to the children in our lives, we want the very best. Whether it be the safest crib, the best daycare, or the toys that will help them learn and interact with the world, we’re anxious to seek out whatever will help them the most and keep them safe and happy. Upon receiving a diagnosis of deafness or hard of hearing for your child, we often want to find the best – the best doctors, the best speech therapists, the best and latest research and information, and the best education and support system that our money and sheer determination can provide. When trying to find the best deaf school in Pittsburgh, all roads – and bridges – lead to DePaul School for Hearing and Speech.

DePaul School for Hearing and Speech shares those same hopes and goals for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. DePaul was established in 1908 by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, and the school is the only Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) school in the western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia tri-state area. By staying current in technology and meeting each child where they are, they continue to stand out as a leader in education for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

By striving to equip each student with the tools and skills necessary to transition to neighborhood schools in order to complete their education alongside their peers with typical hearing, DePaul is not your typical deaf school. Children from birth through 8th grade attend DePaul School, learning to listen and speak without sign language, preparing themselves for a world of sound. A diverse staff of Certified Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Audiologists, Speech-Language Pathologists, a School Psychologist, Registered Nurses, Physical and Occupational Therapists, and a talented support staff partner together with a student’s family and home school district in order to provide an individualized educational plan. Students thrive in small class sizes with unique support from specialized teachers and received speech therapy each day. Each member of a student’s team is truly an advocate – including the student! The confidence and skills students learn at DePaul School empower deaf and hard of hearing children to excel not only in academia but in conversations, social media, and hearing device troubleshooting.

But the education and preparation doesn’t just include the deaf or hard of hearing student – DePaul School is a source of information and support for parents and family as well! Whether connecting with Parent Groups full of others who are going/have gone through exactly what you are going through, finding educational resources and connections to places within the family’s community, or just receiving amazing perks through collaborations with partners and affiliates of DePaul School, parents receive the benefits of enrolling their child in this prestigious school for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The expert team at DePaul School is uniquely qualified to teach children who are deaf or hard of hearing to listen and speak. By specializing as a unique Listening and Spoken Language school, they stand out as a first choice for parents who want their child to attend their typical neighborhood school and participate in “normal” hearing activities. The goal of an LSL education is for the child to transition and succeed in a neighborhood school setting. With early access to sound using cochlear implants or hearing aids and intensive LSL education, children who are deaf or hard of hearing learn to listen and speak and compete academically with their peers with typical hearing.

DePaul School for Hearing and Speech provides the best education for deaf and hard of hearing students in Pittsburgh by utilizing an intensive LSL education geared toward the unique needs of each child, providing support and resources for the entire family, and utilizing an expert team of professionals to prepare your child for transition into the best and fullest life they have the potential to have.

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