Dallas ISD Regional Day School Program for the

Deaf (RDSPD)

Providing family support and educating Deaf and Hard of Hearing students through a full continuum of services in a learning environment that addresses their communication modality, language development, and self-advocacy skills that will positively impact students’ future. 

The Dallas Regional Day School Program for the Deaf is a program that serves students with varying degrees of hearing loss that severely affects their processing of linguist information, with or without amplification, which adversely affects the student’s academic performance.   We currently serve over 600 students throughout Dallas ISD, surrounding districts and private and charter schools. Ninety nine dedicated and experienced staff members are part of our program to provide a full continuum of services.

Dallas RDSPD provides a full continuum of services based upon each student’s individual needs as determined by assessment and the ARD committee. Services may include:

• Parent/Infant (0-3 year old) services are provided through Dallas ISD and the Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECI) that serves the location of the family’s residence. These services are provided in the family’s home.
• Services are available for early childhood through high school (ages 3-22) in centralized classrooms on a regular education campus for intensive instruction. The type of services the student receives are based upon each student’s individual needs. Centralized campuses include Polk Elementary, Hogg Elementary and Mockingbird Elementary, Long Middle School and Woodrow Wilson High School. Our ECSE pre-school is located at the Callier Center for Communications.
• Itinerant teachers of the deaf provide support to students with hearing impairments enrolled in general education or basic special education programs on their home school campus.

Students have the opportunity to be instructed in their or their family’s preferred mode of communication. Dallas RDSPD currently utilizes two different communication modes in the program.

• Auditory/oral Communication-In this mode of communication students utilize their hearing technology and speech to communicate and receive instructions.
• Total Communication -In this mode of communication students may utilize some type of hearing technology, a signing system, gestures and lip reading to communicate and receive instruction. Dallas RDSPD currently utilizes Conceptually Accurate Signed English (CASE), as the signing system. 
•  Assisted listening devices are provided when recommended by the RDSPD audiologist. 

Sign language interpreting/transliterating is provided for students whose mode of communication is total communication in the general education setting and for before and after school educational activities.

Other additional supports and related services such as deaf education counselors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, are available to students if recommended through evaluation and the ARD process.

Students are able to fully participate in their learning communities through extra-curricular sports, clubs and campus activities.  Sign Language classes and parent groups are organized to encourage family and community involvement.