›› What is Deaf Education?

Deaf Education is a broad and diverse professional field that centers on the education of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Teachers often concentrate their studies in early childhood education, elementary education, or a secondary content area. Teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing become experts in language acquisition and the unique learning and communication needs of their students. Sometimes individuals who major in Deaf Education serve in capacities other than teaching for there are other fields and areas of expertise that intersect Deaf Education. For example, some university graduates who majored in Deaf Education have become transition specialists who work with students who are transitioning from school to work. Others function as educational interpreters and academic tutors in inclusive settings. Some may work with families of newly diagnosed deaf or hard of hearing infants and support the family during the early months as they confront and learn the challenges of raising a deaf or hard of hearing child. There are many other areas in which Deaf Educators expand their careers such as speech language pathology, career technology, audiology, school counseling, social work, educational administration, etc.

Deaf Education provides a great foundation and career options for individuals who are interested in working with this unique population of students.

›› Where do Deaf Educators work?

Deaf Educators work in several different settings. They work in private schools for the deaf such as the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Philadelphia, St. Joseph’s School for the Deaf in St. Louis, or The Learning Center for Deaf Children in Framingham, MA.

They work in state-supported residential schools for the deaf such as the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, the Maryland School for the Deaf in Fredrick, or the California School for the Deaf in Fremont. Most states have a residential school for the deaf, which provides educational services deaf and hard of hearing children throughout the state. Sometimes the students live on campus, going home on weekends. Often families move to be near the school so their children can live at home and still take advantage of the educational program.

Deaf Educators also work throughout our public school system in various roles. Deaf Educators who work in a public school setting often are itinerant teachers who travel, much like speech pathologists, from school to school providing consultation and individual services. In addition, Deaf Educators working in public schools serve as resource room teachers, providing academic support for children mainstreamed into the regular education classes. And, sometimes, especially when there is a magnet program with a large enrollment of deaf and hard of hearing students, Deaf Educators teach self-contained classes similar to other teachers in the public school setting.

›› Becoming a Deaf Educator

Colleges and universities offer both undergraduate and graduate programs in Deaf Education. Depending on where you live, both options may be available to you.

There are several types of Deaf Education Teacher Preparation programs from which to choose a program of study.


• Oral-Aural Programs ~ University teacher preparation programs that focus on the preparation of oral-aural teachers emphasize audiology, aural rehabilitation, and techniques for speech development in addition to specialized teaching strategies. Many programs following the oral-aural philosophy work with children who have received cochlear implants and, therefore, prepare Deaf Educators to work in a therapeutic setting.
• Bilingual-Bicultural Programs ~ University teacher preparation programs that focus on the preparation of bilingual-bicultural teachers emphasize learning American Sign Language as a first language and bridge to the development of English (or any other spoken language). These programs also value Deaf Culture as one of the many cultures represented by the diverse student population. Majoring in this area requires one to become proficient in American Sign Language and knowledgeable in the visual learning needs of deaf and hard of hearing students.
• Comprehensive Programs ~ Most university teacher preparation programs in the United States belong to this category. Comprehensive programs provide majors with a variety of techniques in order to prepare them to be versatile enough to work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing in a variety of settings. In addition to courses in instructional strategies, comprehensive programs may offer coursework in audiology, speech pathology, aural rehabilitation, and sign language. Some programs offer courses in communication systems such as cued speech or signed English. Others provide courses in American Sign Language.

Colleges and universities vary in their entry requirements. Please contact the institutions in which your are interested for further information.


CED Certified Colleges and Universities offering Deaf Education

Association of College Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing