Models of Service Delivery

Sometimes teachers of the deaf/hard of hearing are asked about their role in comparison to other educators. The following are resources that address role distinctions:

• Educational Audiologists compared to Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
• Speech Language Pathologists compared to Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing

PDF

• Children with Hearing Loss Need and Educational Audiologist on their Educational Team
• Role Comparisons for Teacher of the Deaf, Educational Audiologist, Speech-Language Pathologist, Interpreter, and Special Educator

Student Needs CANNOT be Met by Just One Service Delivery Model

Requirement for Continuum of Alternative Placements:

Sec. 300.115 Continuum of alternative placements.

(a) Each public agency must ensure that a continuum of alternative placements is available to meet the needs of children with disabilities for special education and related services.

(b) The continuum required in paragraph (a) of this section must–

(1) Include the alternative placements listed in the definition of special education under Sec. 300.38 (instruction in regular classes, special classes, special schools, home instruction, and instruction in hospitals and institutions); and

(2) Make provision for supplementary services (such as resource room or itinerant instruction) to be provided in conjunction with regular class placement.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(5) )

Models of Service Delivery

One-size-fits-all is not a legal way to approach determination of individualized student needs.

1. Determine the student’s needs: academics AND functional performance. It is NOT necessary for a student to have an academic achievement gap as a sole criteria for adverse educational effect.

Special considerations requires the team to look at how and how well a student is able to communicate with others in the classroom setting, including the impact of the hearing loss on perception of classroom communication at a distance and in background noise.

Refer to
Support for Showing Adverse Educational Affect Due to Hearing Loss for more information.

2. Does the hearing loss cause an adverse effect to education (performance in the classroom; achievement)?

Does he/she have the listening, communication repair, self-advocacy skills and self-concept needed to be able to compensate for the access issues caused by the hearing loss?

If not, then challenges to functional performance in the classroom is likely. Hearing loss results in reduced incidental language learning often resulting in language gaps, including pragmatic language and social interaction issues.

3. What services (teaching skills) and supports (ensuring access) are needed for the student to receive equal benefit of education in the general education setting?

Refer to
Considerations for Service Provision Models
 to further contemplate the continuum of services.

Refer to
Hearing Itinerant Services Rubric
for factors to consider when determining the level and frequency of services.

Refer to 
Literature Review and Analysis or Itinerant Teachers of the Hearing Impaired Located in the Midwest: Service Delivery Model in Education  (2008)

The Inclusion Model and Children with Hearing Loss