10 People You Should Collaborate With Dr. Nanci A. Scheetz, CSC Professor, VSU Dr. Susan Easterbrooks Professor, GSU

1. Audiologists They are responsible for: conducting comprehensive hearing evaluations Selecting appropriate hearing aids and assistive listening devices Making earmolds Managing hearing aid loaner programs

2. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) Assist in the development of D/HH students communication skills Work with language acquisition and assessment Provide effective oral communication strategies Assist students in developing conversations skills

3. School Psychologists School Psychologists provide: Psychological testing and evaluations Provide assistance with students who have serious behavior and emotional problems Provide assistance to teachers in developing strategies for working with students with serious behavior and emotional problems

4. School Counselors School counselors can be a tremendous help to you when working the students who are deaf or hard of hearing. They can: Design activities for socialization and peer interactions Help with transitional issues from elementary to middle to high school

5. Teachers of the Deaf and Special Education Teachers Teachers of the Deaf and Special Education Teachers are key players in the education of D/HH students Oftentimes teachers of the deaf are the team managers for the student’s IEP Teachers of the deaf are trained in instructional methods and techniques to assist you in providing instruction – they have a wealth of information regarding resources you might need.

5. Special Education Teachers Continued Approximately one-third of all deaf and hard of hearing students have one or more educationally significant disability (Schildroth, 1995). The two most common conditions are specific learning disabilities and mental retardation. Special education teachers are a wonderful asset when working with students with these disabilities.

6. Interpreters Interpreters provide the communication link between you and the deaf student Their primary role is to equalize communication Interpreters are familiar with ASL and English Sign Systems and can interpret and transliterate They are your communication specialists

7. Tutors Tutors can become a very valuable part of the educational team. They can: Supplement classroom instruction Assist in vocabulary/language development Enhance and clarify classroom instruction Provide test taking strategies Fill in the gaps for deaf students by providing them with information hearing students receive automatically through the auditory channel

8. Bilingual Specialists It is essential that deaf students build vocabulary and enhance their abilities to recognize words in print. Bilingual Specialists will be able to provide you with strategies for English Language Learners. Deaf students who come from homes where English is not their native language will also benefit from these strategies.

9. Deaf Students Consult with students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Ask their opinion of what they need and what they find helpful Let them comment on activities, classroom arrangements, and communication preferences Let them tell you what’s working for them and what isn’t

10. Parents Keep parents in the loop Ask parents what they’re doing at home How do they communicate? How do they discipline? Find out what’s working and what isn’t Be sensitive to cultural differences

10 People You Should Collaborate With Audiologists Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) School Psychologists School Counselors Teachers of the Deaf and Special Education Teachers Interpreters

Additional People You Should Collaborate With Tutors Bilingual Specialists Deaf Students Parents

References Bullard, C. (2003). The itinerant teacher’s handbook. Hillsboro, OR: Butte Publications, Inc. Moores, D.F. (2001). Educating the deaf. Boston,MA: Houghton Mifflin Co. Scheetz, N. (2002). Orientation to deafness. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Publications, Inc. Schildroth, A. (1995). Annual survey of hearing impaired children and youth 1993-1994.