The auditory/oral program is dedicated to the development of listening, speech, language, literacy and communication so that students can function competitively within the hearing community. Daily classroom instruction consists of academically and linguistically rich lessons specifically designed for the level of the students. The students are taught to maximize the use of their residual hearing through the utilization of hearing aids or cochlear implants in order to learn spoken language.
A team of trained paraprofessionals and other support service providers compliments our highly qualified professional staff. All staff receives comprehensive training in the latest developments in technology and strategies for enhancing children's listening, speech and language development and learning. Staff has up-to-date knowledge and skills for working with children with hearing aids and cochlear implants. The auditory/oral classrooms are of sound structure and provide the conditions necessary for optimal listening environments. Each classroom is equipped with a DAI (Direct Audio Input) FM system as well as a portable sound field system. The Lake Drive state of the art audiological diagnostic testing center has the capacity to program cochlear implants.
The school has a comprehensive academic program that is enhanced by allied subjects including art, music, library, physical education, as well as extracurricular sports and activities. All classrooms in the Lake Drive Program have Smartboard technology and a high ratio of computers to students with access to computer-assisted learning opportunities.
Services Provided:
- Intensive auditory intervention and auditory learning
- Occupational therapy
- Counseling
- Physical therapy
- Auditory/Verbal Intervention
- Summer Program
- Intensive speech, language and listening intervention 4-5 times per week/30 minute sessions
- Inpidual and small group instruction based upon the child's Inpidual Educational Plan
- Diagnostic and consultative services in: clinical audiology, psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech/ language/ listening intervention.
Mainstream Program
When appropriate a mainstream educational program for allied and academic subjects are available for our Lake Drive students. This program is implemented, monitored and supervised by Lake Drive personnel.
- Mainstream education with comprehensive support services is available throughout the Mountain Lakes school district when appropriate.
- Lake Drive offers a team of itinerant teachers of the deaf who provide support and in-service education to students in their home school districts.
Organization of Mainstream Program
- Lake Drive School plans and organizes IEP in conjunction with student's home district case manager, parents, and staff at mainstream school.
- Students spend a portion of the day in mainstream with support services of teacher of the deaf as needed.
- Orientation and In-service training for teachers of mainstream classrooms.
- Team approach for monitoring student progress.
- Sensitivity and awareness sessions with hearing pupils.
Service to Parents
- Evening family education meetings
- Inpidual parent counseling
- Home-school communication log
- Social worker-led group parent information meetings
Staff
- Principal
- Supervisors of Instruction
- Fully certified Teachers of the Deaf
- Classroom teacher paraprofessionals
- School Psychologist
- Consulting Clinical Psychologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Art Teacher
- Computer Specialist
- ASHA certified audiologists
- Music Teacher
- Certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialists
- Consulting specialists in other areas, as needed
- MSW certified social worker- bilingual services available
- ASHA certified speech and language pathologists with specialization in language, speech and auditory habilitation.