BOISE SCHOOL DISTRICT
ELEMENTARY DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM

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The Boise School District Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program came into existence in 1977 under the direction of Michael Anderson. It currently serves deaf and hard of hearing students living in Boise. It is staffed by teachers of the deaf, a speech-language pathologist, an audiologist and interpreters. It is housed at Jefferson Elementary school at 200 S. Latah in Boise, Idaho.

Each child enters the program with a unique set of skills and needs. It is the philosophy of this program to assess these strengths and needs and address them on an individual basis. Parental communication and support is a integral part of the program. Different modes of sign languages are available and utilized to coincide with the language used in the home. The interpreters and teachers are skilled in either Signed English and/or ASL. Children enter the program in Kindergarten, and are educated in a classroom for the Deaf. This gives the children the opportunity to increase language and vocabulary with small group signed instruction. As they proceed through the grade levels, they are gradually mainstreamed in academic subjects on an individual basis. They are accompanied by an interpreter that is skilled in their preferred signing system. Speech therapists target auditory training and speech reading skills to reinforce and make use of residual hearing. An on-site audiogist is available for consultation, testing and maintenance of hearing devices. You are invited to explore the information provided below.