Navigating the listening and speaking journey with a child who is deaf or hard of hearing can be a daunting task. When a child is first diagnosed, there are so many decisions to be made and it can be very overwhelming. Our expert team of certified teachers of the deaf, speech therapists, and audiologists have a wealth of knowledge and resources to help parents make the right decisions for their deaf or hard of hearing child at every step of the journey. From the first diagnosis to transitioning to their neighborhood schools and beyond, the DePaul Family is there every step of the way.
DePaul School also has a network of parents who have “been there-done that” and are willing to give new parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing practical advice for the day to day issues that pop up along the way. Questions like, “How do I keep my child’s hearing devices on while they play?” and, “How important is it for me to talk to my child if he can’t hear anyway?” may not be the first thing a parent thinks about during the early stages of their child’s listening and speaking journey; however, they are just as important as things like deciding on which device is right for their child! Having a support group of fellow parents and comprehensive resources is vital to the success of children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families.
Students and families come from all over the world to learn to listen and speak at DePaul School. We have had students from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and Louisiana just to name a few! As one of the only Listening and Spoken Language schools to teach deaf or hard of hearing students from infancy through eighth grade, DePaul School has been a hub of students and families from all walks of life.
We work closely with the student’s school district on enrollment and eligibility for DePaul School’s programs. DePaul School for Hearing and Speech’s Elementary Program is funded, in part, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Grants and individual fundraising throughout the year make it possible for DePaul School to offer our services tuition-free to students.