Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The communication needs of deaf and hard of hearing students are the driving force behind the curriculum of the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind’s Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Our communication philosophy in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department supports the use of Total Communication. MSDB provides a language enriched program with a staff and peer group who are fluent in sign language. These language role models are critical to the language development of each deaf and hard of hearing child. Without appropriate sign language role models, deaf students will be unable to acquire the language basis for all other learning. To support our Total Communication philosophy and to develop each student’s potential for speech and use of residual hearing, we offer speech and audiological services.

The general education program is as outlined in the Montana School Accreditation Standards and Procedures Manual. MSDB is a member of the Golden Triangle Curriculum Consortium. Each school day, students receive instruction in language arts, reading, science, math, social studies, and health enhancement. Art, music, and vocational courses are taught as appropriate for age level and placement in school. Adaptations are made for students to access the curriculum, including communication and literacy, as required for individualized student programs. Academic testing, in the form of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the MontCAS, is done in compliance with state requirements.

Students at any grade level can participate in Great Falls Public School classes as determined by their IEP. MSDB provides experienced interpreter/tutor services that assist in facilitating communication and accessing the curriculum in the mainstreamed setting. In addition to sign language interpreters, we offer real-time captioning for those students who are new to sign language and/or who have the appropriate reading level.

To help support educational goals, we have an extremely skilled support staff consisting of a School Psychologist, Speech Therapist, Communication Technician, Audiologist, Physical Therapist and an Occupational Therapist. For those students who also have a vision impairment, we access the technical expertise of the Department for the Visually Impaired staff and their Orientation and Mobility Specialist.

Transition from high school to post-secondary education, technical training, and employment is important for all students. On-campus and off-campus work experience is provided for high school students through their IEP. At MSDB, transition is a collaborative effort among the students, parents, MSDB faculty, and the personnel from Vocational Rehabilitation Services or the Department of Developmental Disabilities. Local post secondary institutions such as the Montana State University, Great Falls College of Technology (MSUGF-COT), Montana State University, Northern (MSUN), and the University of Great Falls (UGF) are utilized by our students in transition.

MSDB is a school of opportunities. Students are provided opportunities to speak with others who understand, opportunities to learn, opportunities to interact, and opportunities to build the skills and responsibilities necessary to live an independent life.