Students
Hearing Disabled
Mission
 The West Middle School hearing program is part of Kalamazoo/RESA's program for deaf and hard of hearing students in Kalamazoo county. The Kalamazoo/RESA's program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing strives to effectively educate hearing impaired students within the regular education setting utilizing the Total Communication approach.
Other Total Communication classrooms located within Portage Public Schools are at Woodland Elementary housing the K-5 grade hearing impaired classroom while the high school Total Communication classroom services students in grades 9-12 and is located within Portage Central High School. Kalamazoo/RESA also has a preschool program located within Indian Prairie Elementary School in Kalamazoo Public Schools servicing children 3-5 years in age. Certified teachers of the hearing impaired deliver instruction to students in all core academic areas with an emphasis on language and audition. Class sizes are limited to 7 students per teacher.
Services
 A variety of services are available to hearing impaired students within the within the West Hearing Impaired classrooms.
- Speech and Language - Our certified speech and language therapist teaches articulation and language to both Deaf and Hard of Hearing students utilizing a multi-sensory approach.
- Training - Staff members provide and coordinate in-service and assistance for regular education staff with regards to best teaching practices to use with hearing impaired students in their classroom.
- Accommodations - All buildings housing Total Communication classrooms are equipped with closed captioned televisions, visual alert systems for fire alarms and TTYs for student use.
- Sign Language - Sign language instruction is available for all staff and students interested in communicating with hearing impaired students and adults within the schools.
- Audiology - Board Certified Audiology services providing personal auditory trainers for use in the classroom, in-servicing on hearing loss for staff and students, and hearing aid maintenance.
- Instruction - All our teachers for the hearing impaired are committed to using ALL available communication avenues to instruct students, including sign language and voice modalities
Interpreting Services
Interpreters within the Kalamazoo/RESA program hold a Quality Assurance (QA) certificate at a level three or a National Certification from the National Registry for the Deaf (RID). Interpreting services are also available for hearing impaired parents and family members upon request for after school events, activities and conferences.
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