Rochester School for the Deaf (RSD)

Education and related services - Rochester School for the Deaf (rsd) provides educational programs for profoundly Deaf and hard of hearing children newborn to age 21, through funding from the new york state department of education (nysed). These programs are based on the unique language, communication, educational, and social needs of each child appointed to the School by the nysed. During the 2021-2022 School year, rsd served 135 students from 33 School districts in 11 counties. Children were enrolled in Deaf infant, pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle and high School programs (new york state registered programs awarding regents and high School diplomas, career development and occupational studies commencement credentials and skills and achievement commencement credentials). Accomplishments for this School year include: - at the early childhood center, the family instructional and resource service team (f.i.r.s.t.) Program and preschool served 22 babies and toddlers with home visits and in-person classes. Family visits for the youngest babies resumed on fridays mid-year. An additional 17 students attended preschool, with all instruction in person following nys masking and social distancing guidelines. Early childhood students were served prepared and packaged lunches in classrooms as part of our covid protocols. Assessments and standards were used to plan curriculum and instruction, with a focus on language, cognition, social emotional learning and self help, and physical development. Authentic hands-on instruction is based on the students interests and is play based. In our four-year olds classrooms, we follow new york state prekindergarten learning standards. Work continued in on staff professional learning in social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion. Communication classes address the ifsp/iep goals for individual children, focussing on language development and other skills. Updates to the natural playground/outdoor classroom extended learning to an outside creative learning space, including gross motor, language, cognition, and social emotional development. Staff continue to develop a rich library of asl storytime videos as a resource to families, and asl storytime resumed at a local library.- rsd's "big School" (grades k-12) resumed in-person five days a week on campus, again following nys masking and social distancing protocols. Enrollment as of june 2022 was as follows: elementary (k-5) 35, middle School (6-8) 31, and high School (9-12) 30. Rsd graduated 8 seniors, all with nys regents diplomas (2 advanced). the robust k-12 curriculum was supplemented by a positive behavioral interventions and supports program and diversity, equity and inclusion work, including workshops with victorica monroe and a day of programming to celebrate juneteenth. Students participated in a wide range of athletics, clubs, and programs, including chess club, jr. nad, battle of the books, rit's next big idea competition, gallaudet's academic bowl and more. Learning continued with an extended School year program (summer School) designed to support qualifying students meet their iep goals.- with campus open again on a limited basis in spring 2022, rsd families were welcomed back with an earth day event, family festival and play. Family engagement and communication became a priority, with monthly newsletters created for the ecc and k-12 School, and more frequent communication between School leaders and home.

Deaf infant program - educational programs for Deaf or hard of hearing children, newborn to age three. Early childhood center - educational programs for Deaf or hard-of-hearing children to age four. This program includes: - a home-based infants, toddlers and twos program for children who are Deaf or hard of hearing from birth to 18 months of age;- a center-based program for children from 18 months to 3 years of age;- a full-day preschool program for children ages 3 and 4;- a summer School program designed to support the ongoing educational and social development needs of young children.

Residential - Rochester School for the Deaf (rsd) provides housing for students whose individual education plan (iep) requires it as part of their educational programming. Most of these students are residents of School districts outside of monroe county for whom a daily commute would be impractical. During the 2021-2022 School year, while more qualified for participation in the residential program, only 14 students lived on campus in the girls and boys dormitories due covid-19 guidelines and parental preferences. Dormitories were operational on a regular schedule from monday afternoon through friday morning. Students receive homework and other support and had the opportunity to participate in athletics and clubs.