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Become a School Social Worker
With Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children!
About the Program
Statistics from the US Department of Education tell us that there are almost 71,000 children with hearing loss in grades one through twelve. There are more than 12,000 deaf-blind children in our schools. The number of children with cochlear implants is rising dramatically each year.
Yet most mainstream schools and deaf schools do not have trained support staff to work with these children.
To reduce this service gap, the Federal Department of Education has given Gallaudet University's Department of Social Work a $400,000 dollar grant to identify and train school social workers.
Why?
- The families of deaf children may need additional information and supports
- Deaf and hard of hearing children develop their strengths and self confidence with feedback from professionally trained staff
- There are many deaf children with multiple areas of need: deaf-blind children, those with attention deficit or other physical and emotional needs
- Children with cochlear implants must have qualified professionals on their team
- Families from diverse cultures who have a deaf child may look for added supports in getting a culturally appropriate education for their child
Why Gallaudet?
- The Gallaudet Department of Social Work is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
- Port of NCATE Licensed by the DEPS.
- Our graduate students are immersed in a strong curriculum that focuses on the strengths of deaf and hard of hearing people and on personal and community empowerment.
- Special courses such as School Social Work Policy, School Social Work Practice, and Play Therapy focus on skills needed in the school system
- Graduates develop strong sign communication skills
Internships are diverse and provide excellent learning experiences:
- Baltimore County Public Schools
- Carl Sandburg Learning Center
- Fairfax County Public Schools
- Kendall Demonstration Elementary School
- Maryland School for the Deaf (Columbia and Frederick Campuses)
- Model Secondary School for the Deaf
- Prince William County Public Schools (Marie Reed, Woodrow Wilson)
- Washington DC Public Schools
- Prince Georges County Public Schools
- The River School
- Clerc Center
- MSSD/KDES
- St. Coletta
Broader, semester-long internships across the country have now been developed for the advanced year internship. Although not limited to the following, possible internships include:
- Lexington School for the Deaf, New York
- Maryland School for the Deaf, Frederick
- American School for the Deaf, Connecticut
- California School for the Deaf, Fremont and Riverside
- Hawaii Center for the Deaf and Blind
- Tennessee School for the Deaf
- New Mexico School for the Deaf
- Illinois School for the Deaf
- Beau School for the Deaf, Cameron, South Africa
- Washington State School for the Deaf
- Delaware School for the Deaf
- Montogomery County PS
- The Learning Center, Mass.
- Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
Graduates have found excellent employment opportunities. Recent graduates work in school settings with deaf children in:
Maine, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, The District of Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Texas, New Mexico, California, Missouri, Washington, Delaware
Come Join the School Social Work Specialization!
In return for a commitment to work with deaf children in a school setting, you will earn:
- half tuition scholarship throughout all four semesters
- stipend per semester
- travel assistance to and from area internships
- a competitive and flexible graduate degree
- fullsupport to attend the School Social Work Association of America's annual conference
For more information, contact: Beth G. Betman (Beth.Betman@gallaudet.edu)
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