Consultation/Direct Service
Students (Ages 3-21)
We provide services to meet the unique educational needs of students who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind. We have an outreach team of professionals who are available to provide services, including teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing, speech and language pathologists, educational interpreters and many more listed on our ERC Services & Programs page. Please contact us to learn more and see how we can meet your students’ needs!
Programs
Pre-Employment Transition Services
Available to deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind students between the ages of 14-21. The goal of these services is to promote a successful transition from school to work and into adult life. Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) with New Hampshire Vocational Rehabilitation, pre-employment transition services provide students an early start at career exploration and preparation for life after high school at no cost.
These services are available to students who are on a 504 Plan or an IEP. Please contact NDHHS if a student is not on an IEP or 504 Plan, as they may qualify if they have a documented hearing loss.
Contact us for more information!
Family Sign Language Program
Provides direct sign language instruction to families of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or those who benefit from visual language, ages 0-21. Classes are offered in-home, virtually or at a mutually agreed upon location.
Contact us for more information!
Shared Reading Program
Based on the Shared Reading Project developed by The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, families learn research-based book-sharing strategies specific to children who are deaf or hard of hearing using American Sign Language.
Contact us for more information!
Resources
NASDE Guidelines
The purpose of these guidelines is to supplement and update the information needed by teachers, leaders, families, school instructional support personnel and other stakeholders to have the knowledge, skills and vision to help children be successful. Children and youth who are deaf or hard of hearing reach their potential, like their hearing peers, when they are motivated to succeed and are supported by caring professionals and families. Education standards, instruction and services must be the same or consistent with what is provided to all children and youth and supplemented with specially designed instruction and services when special education services are needed.
http://www.nasdse.org/docs/nasdse-3rd-ed-7-11-2019-final.pdf
NH Deaf Child Bill of Rights
Establishes a deaf child’s bill of rights and an advisory council on the education of deaf children.
Special Education and 504 Plans
1) Disability Rights Center-NH
- Special Education: https://drcnh.org/issue-areas/
childrens-issues/education/ special-education/ - Section 504: https://drcnh.org/issue-areas/
childrens-issues/education/ section-504-of-the- rehabilitation-act-of-1973/
2) NH Department of Education
- Special Education: https://www.education.nh.gov/
specialeducation - Section 504: https://www.education.nh.gov/
pathways-education/section-504
3) Parent Information Center on Special Education: https://picnh.org/
Supporting Success for Children with Hearing Loss
https://
The core goals of Supporting Success are to provide resources, maintain a growing bank of free information, provide products for sale, provide relevant and practical professional development and strengthen knowledge on student rights for improved advocacy.
FAQs
How do I advocate for services for my child through either an IEP or 504 Plan?
a) A family’s involvement in the IEP process is paramount to their child’s success. In the event that you need support in advocating for services, please call us for a consult at 603-224-1850 ext. 203.
b) Hands & Voices is an organization dedicated to supporting families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Please visit https://handsandvoices.org/astra/index.html for advocacy tools specific to children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
c) In NH, the Parent Information Center on Special Education has a number of resources. Please visit their website for more information:
https://picnh.org/specialeducation/
Does the ERC provide specialized evaluations for students who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind (e.g. evaluations from a school psychologist or educational audiologist)?
Yes, please see our full list of providers on our Services page. If you do not see what you are looking for or have further questions, please reach out to us!
My child is between the ages of 14-21. What should we be thinking about to prepare him/her/them for life after high school?
Pre-employment transition services are available to students ages 14-21 who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind. The goal of these
services is to provide students with an early start at career exploration and preparation for life after high school at no cost. Please see our Services page for more information.
Questions?
Reach out to us today, we will be happy to help!
