Deaf & Hard of Hearing Program

​Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHOH) Program and Itinerant Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (IDHOH) Program
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The Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Program provides services to students from birth through age 22 years old who have hearing losses ranging from mild to profound. Both the instructional classroom and itinerant services are offered to students who reside within Merced County school districts.

 The DHH classroom is located at Peterson (Allan) Elementary. The classroom is staffed by a highly qualified teacher, signer aide, and certified interpreters prepared to meet the needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students grades kindergarten to sixth grade. A total communication approach that emphasizes all avenues of communication (speech, speech reading, aural, sign language, fingerspelling, etc.) is used throughout the instructional day. Students have access to the adopted general education curriculum and support services. Interdisciplinary collaboration among all educational team members is crucial in providing the students with an integrated program. As appropriate, DHOH students are mainstreamed into the regular education classroom with a certified interpreter in a designated subject academic area. The DHH program is designed to develop strong, independent, and individual learners.

 The Itinerant IDHOH Program serves students ages birth to 22 years old who receive services based on their ability to access the general education curriculum through either direct support or consult model. The itinerant teachers of the deaf and hearing-impaired have the primary responsibility for the specialized instruction and services required to meet the unique needs of students in general education classes with hearing loss. Eligible students are those whose hearing loss affects their developmental growth or educational performance to such an extent that special education and related services are required. Itinerant Services are provided at each student’s school.