Deaf or Hard of Hearing (D/HH) Information

Purpose of Regional Inclusive Services

Oregon's 13,000+ students who experience visual impairment, orthopedic impairment, deafness or hard of hearing, deaf-blindness, traumatic brain injury and/or autism spectrum disorder need an appropriate and accessible education in their home school district. Regional Inclusive Services provides training, technical tools, and additional support to educators so that all school districts, no matter their size or location, can deliver an inclusive education.

Regional Inclusive Services recently changed its name from Regional Programs to more specifically and accurately describe its function. Inclusive practices ensure that students with disabilities have opportunities to learn alongside their nondisabled peers in their neighborhood schools and communities. The statewide program consists of the Oregon Department of Education and several education service districts, school districts and other community agencies who work in partnership to ensure educators and schools across Oregon are equipped with the tools, skills and resources to deliver an accessible education for all children.

What does it mean to be eligible under Deaf or Hard of Hearing?

Deaf or Hard of Hearing means a hearing condition, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes those children who are hard of hearing or deaf.

Deaf or Hard of Hearing Regional Inclusive Services Teams

• Region 1 Eastern Oregon (Intermountain ESD)
  
• Region 2 Central Oregon (High Desert ESD)
• Region 3 Southern Oregon (Southern Oregon ESD)
  
• Region 4 Cascade (Linn Benton Lincoln ESD)
  
• Region 4 Cascade (South Coast ESD)
  
• Region 5 Willamette (Willamette ESD)
• Region 6 Columbia (Portland Public Schools)
  
• Region 7 Lane (Lane ESD)
  
• Region 8 Northwest (Northwest ESD)

Resources

• D/HH Team Regional Inclusive Services Map Contact Info 2022-2023
  
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing Evaluation Components and Eligibility Criteria OAR 581-015-2150
  
• OAR 581-015-2120 Deaf or Hard of Hearing revised March 2020
  
• D/HH Early Intervention Eligibility form
  
• D/HH Early Childhood Special Education Eligibility form
  
• D/HH School Age Special Education Eligibility form
  
• What you need to know to Implement Revised OAR 581-015-2150 August 2020 power point
  
• What you need to know to Implement Revised OAR 581-015-2150 August 2020 one page document
  
• Oregon School for the Deaf

  The Oregon School for the Deaf is a community that fosters lifelong learning, encouraging individuals to become self-fulfilled, productive citizens.

• Educational Interpreting for Student who are Deaf

  Guidelines that reflect effective practice and research on the role of professional educational interpreters for students who are Deaf.

• Hands and Voices

  The nation’s largest parent-led organization supporting families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

• Class Room Resource for Students

  Introducing a classroom resource that empowers kids of different ages to talk about their hearing loss. This PowerPoint template consists of approximately 30 slides that students with hearing loss can choose from to present to their classmates. The template is filled with fun facts, animated images and videos highlighting relevant topics such as “How we hear”, “Types of hearing loss”, “How hearing aids work”, “Tips that will help me hear you” and “How to protect your hearing”. Within the template, children upload photos of themselves, their hearing technology and even their audiogram to personalize it.

  There are 2 versions of the template. A version for younger children (5-10 years old) and a version for older children (11-16 years old). Both versions have the same content but images of children in each template reflecting the different age groups.

• National Association of the Deaf

  Established in 1880 by Deaf leaders, their mission is to preserve, protect and promote the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

• Early Hearing Detection and Intervention
  

• Hearing loss is the most common birth defect, occurring at a rate of three in every 1,000 children.
  

• Deaf Students Bill of Rights Toolkit
  

The first months of life are a critical period for developing speech and language skills. Early identification of a hearing loss and appropriate intervention enhances a child's potential for speech and language development. Hearing loss in one or both ears occurs in 2 to 3 children out of 1,000 children in the United States.

The goal of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (EHDI) is to assure that all Oregon newborns receive a hearing screening by one month of age, infants who refer on newborn screening receive a diagnostic evaluation by three months of age, and infants diagnosed with loss are enrolled into early intervention services by six months of age.

Contact:

Georgeann Harty