Who are we?
The Capital Region BOCES Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program provides comprehensive services from a multidisciplinary team. An educational team comprised of Teachers of the Deaf, Speech Therapists, Social Workers, Educational Interpreters, Educational Assistants and Note takers work in conjunction with the district staff to ensure that both social and scholastic needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing student are met.
A Mainstream Program
All students are mainstreamed for at least part of the day. Guilderland staff support the concept and practice of mainstreaming and have a long history of working to enhance the academic and social experience of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. Farnsworth Middle School supports a sign language club. High school students may attend the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School will receiving academic support through our program. Transitional services that establish links to post-graduate activities are also provided. In addition, Deaf and Hard of Hearing students participate in extracurricular activities.
Methods of Communication
Capital Region BOCES provides education and support services to Deaf and Hard of Hearing students with a variety of communication needs. This includes students with cochlear implants, students who are Deafblind and students who are profoundly Deaf who use Total Communication and/or ASL. BOCES provides an FM system as well. Depending on the needs of the student, Speech Reading, Cued Speech and Aural/Oral Communication skills are taught.
For more information about this program locally, call (518) 464-9440 or (518) 456-9007.
- For more information on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program at Guilderland High School, please contact: Christina Loukides, (518) 861-8591, ext. 5104.
- For more information on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program at Farnsworth Middle School, please contact: Carol Donovan, (518) 464-9440.
- For more information on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program at Westmere Elementary School, please contact: Joan Brucker, (518) 464-1841.