Jan Bermingham, Coordinator
269-471-7724 (Phone)
| | What we are: | - We are a Public Auditory-Oral School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in southwestern Michigan.
| | Who we serve: | - Students with all types of hearing loss
- Birth through high school graduation
- Berrien County, and adjoining counties who contract services for oral services. (A total communication program is available in a nearby county.)
| | Our Goals: | - Children use listening skills to develop speech and language
- Children develop receptive and expressive English language skills that form the support for grade level reading and writing skills
| | Educational Services: | - Our local hospitals use Newborn Infant Screening and we are part of the follow up for the program. As soon as the hearing loss is identified, we provide individual services to the young child and his/her family. The emphasis is on building listening and language.
- Preschoolers attend half day sessions with a teacher of hearing impaired. The curriculum stresses pre-academic skills, speech and language.
- Elementary and secondary students may attend classes for the hearing impaired for part or most of the day. They are also included in academic and non-academic activities with their peers in general education. Further attention is given to the development of strong reading and writing skills.
- Teacher consultants serve hearing impaired students who attend classes in their home districts. They provide equipment, academic and language support for the students.
- A speech-language therapist is available to work with the students in Berrien Springs, attending to speech, language and listening goals and objectives.
| | Audiological Services: | A full time educational audiologist - Assesses the hearing for children referred from Cass and Berrien Counties with possible hearing losses, including newborns
- Works as a member of a diagnostic team to determine educational significance of hearing losses
- Monitors the hearing of identified hearing impaired students; manages needs and progress
- Recommends and manages personal equipment for hearing impaired children including hearing aids and personal and sound field FM systems
- Works with various cochlear implant centers to provide best service for students who have or are considering cochlear implants
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