Children living in the state of North Dakota who has been professionally identified as deaf or hard of hearing may be eligible for services through the North Dakota School for the Deaf School-Aged Outreach Program upon request. All services can be requested by parents, guardians, local educational agencies, other services, and medical providers. All services are provided at no cost.
North Dakota School for the Deaf School-Aged Outreach Department provides school-based services for children who are receiving educational services through any school program and are designed to support professionals who work with students who are deaf and hard of hearing. Qualified Teachers of the Deaf skilled in the areas of academics, language, speech, and auditory skills can provide assistance to schools or agency teams in determining the areas of need for deaf and hard of hearing students.
Outreach services include, but are not limited to the following:
- Classroom observation
- Demonstration/modeling of instructional strategies
- IEP meeting attendance
- Parent workshops
- Professional development courses in education of students who are deaf/hard of hearing
- Individualized parent/family training
- Individualized inservice training for school/agency staff
- Presentations at local, regional and state events
- One on one skype sessions
- Community classes
- Development of an assessment plan
- Assessment available in the areas of Audiology, speech and auditory skills, language and communication, academic skills, cognitive ability, social-emotional development and vocational skills
- Recommendations regarding program and design based on assessment results
- Assistive Technology
- Career Exploration
- Transitions unique for people with hearing loss
- Summer Camp
- In June of 1987, the North Dakota School for the Deaf established a summer camp program. Its goal is to give children with a hearing loss from throughout North Dakota an opportunity to participate in an assortment of activities with old friends and new. Since 1987, NDSD Summer Camp continues to provide a wide range of educational and recreational experiences. Campers will participate in a variety of typical camping activities such as swimming, canoeing/kayaking, arts and crafts, horseback riding, climbing, lawn games and more!
- Communication philosophy: ALL methods of communication, appropriate to the needs of the individual camper are used by the camp staff to ensure understanding. These methods include: speech, writing, and sign language.
- Camp staff includes dedicated and enthusiastic adults, including those who are deaf and hard of hearing, who are experienced with camping. Camp involves about one counselor for every three to five campers and is overseen by a camp director.
- Family Learning Vacation
- Deaf Awareness Week Activities
- Optimists Communications Contest for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Teen Days
- Regional Family Events
About Getting Scholarships: Every year there is a request for a list of scholarships for deaf and hard of hearing students. While the list is provided, the following should be considered. Just because you have a hearing loss does not mean you will get the scholarship. It really is a subjective process meaning that the applicant has to find a way to make their application stand out from the others to make it to the finals.
Language Experience Book: Adapted from Topic 20 of SKI*HI's Communication Interactions.
Resources on Hearing Loss NDSD/RC: Information detailing NDSD/RC responsibilities in serving the citizens of North Dakota.
Contact Information:
Northeast
Denise Marback
701-665-4420
denise.marback@k12.nd.us
1401 College Drive N.
Devils Lake, ND 58301
Southeast
Linda Ehlers
701-239-7374
linda.ehlers@k12.nd.us
1321 S. 23rd St.
Fargo, ND 58103
Ashley Martin
701-239-7375
ashley.martin@k12.nd.us
1321 S. 23rd St.
Fargo, ND 58103
Northwest
Nicole Swartwout, Coordinator
701-857-8681
701-839-1575 (fax)
nicole.swartwout@k12.nd.us
1 North Main St., Suite 108
Minot, ND 58703
Jodi Scheeler
701-857-8682
701-839-1575 (fax)
jodi.scheeler@k12.nd.us
1 North Main St., Suite 108
Minot, ND 58703
Southwest
Lana Zimbelman
701-442-5052
lana.zimbelman@k12.nd.us
PO Box 100 / 123 Summit St.
Underwood, ND 58576
Tami Iszler
701-328-3987
tami.iszler@k12.nd.us
418 E. Broadway, Suite 228
Bismarck, ND 58501