Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Definition: According to Colorado Eligibility, a child with a hearing impairment, including Deafness shall have a deficiency in hearing sensitivity as demonstrated by an elevated threshold of auditory sensitivity to pure tones or speech where even with the help of amplification, the child is prevented from receiving reasonable educational benefit from general education.

The Colorado Rules for the Administration of the Exceptional Children’s Educational Act (ECEA) defines the criteria for identifying a student with a hearing disability (Deaf/Hard of Hearing). Colorado’s Deaf Child Bill of Rights (1996) requires that all students with a hearing disability have a Communication Plan that considers students’ communicative needs as they relate to social and emotional development.

What's New

Clearing the Air: Addressing the Rumors and Building Clarity

When: Thursday, January 9th, 2025, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Where: Online via Zoom (link to be provided to registrants)

Join us as we dive into key topics including licensing, mentorship, service delivery grids, service delivery statements, supporting multilingual learners, and more. This session is designed for educational interpreters and those who support them, offering clarity and answers to your burning questions.

Bring your curiosity, and let’s clear the air together!

Registration for this event will close on at 5 p.m. on December 26th, 2024.

Funding Opportunity: Communication Plan Events for Students who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing

The CDE is offering IDEA state-level set-aside funds to help Administrative Units (AUs) address the unique needs outlined in Communication Plans for students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. These funds prioritize collaboration, supporting events that connect students with peers and role models who share their language and communication style, and fostering parent-child communication.

Key Details:

Apply by January 15th for priority consideration.
Multiple-District team collaborating to sponsor events will receive priority consideration
Funds are limited and awardees will be notified by February 14th, 2025.
Funds cannot be used for food or district employee professional development.

Don’t miss this chance to empower your students and families through meaningful connections!

Review funding guidance

Download the application

Serving Students who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing: A Professional Development Course for SLPs and other Service Providers

Students with hearing loss in Colorado, although low in incidence, have educationally significant and often quite specific needs in speech, language and academic development. Service providers, especially Speech and Language Pathologists, may at one time or another provide services to students with hearing loss. This course provides knowledge, information and resources to assist in better understanding, assessing, analyzing data and serving students who have hearing loss.

This course contains 5 modules which focus on the impact of hearing loss, aspects of a potential language gap, role of the SLP and essential nature of collaboration with service providers on the Deaf/HH education team as well as other essential components. Formal and informal assessment, using language samples, and knowing where to find resources and materials can be critical in providing specialized instruction and monitoring student progress. Whether part of a large district program, a small rural school or anywhere in between, this course has been developed to support YOU in the services you provide to students with hearing loss.

Access the course

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D/HH Job Board

View the latest listing of Deaf Hard of Hearing jobs across the state.

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Statewide Deaf/HH Events Calendar

View Deaf/HH Events Calendar

Bulletin Board

Bulletin Board features D/HH specific announcements and important information.

Want to Add to the Events Calendar or Bulletin Board?

Complete Post an
Event Google Form

To post an event, on the Statewide Deaf/HH Events Calendar or Bulletin Board, please complete the Post an Event Google Form. Pease have ready the following information: event title; date; time; location; event description; sponsoring organization and contact information.

If you have an event flyer or web link, please include it for posting on the events calendar/bulletin board. For events requiring an RSVP and/or request for accommodations, please add that information (along with instructions/contact information) within the event description.

Google Forms must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

These events are not a representation of the Colorado Department of Education, nor are they an endorsement from CDE. Unless specified, CDE does not organize these events. This is simply a platform for Deaf/HH events to be listed.

Professionals

[Employment/Professional Info Link]

Listservs for CO Providers
Statewide Collaboration Information
Mentor Program for School Professionals
Employment
Teachers of the Deaf
Educational Audiologists
Educational Interpreters

Families

[Parent/Family Resource Link]

Organizations
Resources
- Accessibility During COVID
- Understanding Hearing Loss
- Birth - 3 Years Old
- Transition Services

Forms and Documents

[Services/Support Programs Link]

D/HH Related Documents
Archived Deaf/Hard of Hearing Newsletters

Questions?

For more information about services for students who are hearing impaired, please contact:

Shauna Moden, Deaf Education Specialist
Phone: 720-413-0179
Email Shauna Moden

Having trouble with this webpage?

If you have problems with broken links or accessing the content on this page, please contact the Exceptional Student Services Unit at ESSU@cde.state.co.us. Please copy the URL link for this page into the email when referencing the problem you are experiencing.