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Fairfax Co. elementary school expands program for deaf students

Students who wear hearing aids to increase hearing efficiency. Helps to be able to learn as much as a friend. The background is a teacher who is talking to him.(Getty Images/iStockphoto/jittawit.21)

A Fairfax County, Virginia, school system is aiming to help deaf students navigate more than just classes.

Canterbury Woods Elementary School is expanding a program that helps kids who are deaf or hard of hearing to also help them with life experiences.

The is partnering with the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf-Hard of Hearing Persons.

The expansion of the program will kick off at Canterbury Woods Elementary school and pair students with nine volunteers who are also either deaf or hard of hearing.

The mentors will share their experiences growing up and meet with the kids one on one or in a group setting to talk about life challenges outside of academics.

The assistance will use a variety of modalities including oral-auditory, cued language, and American Sign Language.

About a third of kids who receive deaf services at the school will be assigned a mentor at the start of the program. The school hopes to expand the program in the future.

Valerie Bonk

Valerie Bonk started working at WTOP in 2016 and has lived in Howard County, Maryland, her entire life. She's thrilled to be a reporter for WTOP telling stories on air.聽She works聽as both a television and radio reporter in the Maryland and D.C. areas.聽

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