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Priority: Literacy
Language and Communication
The Clerc Center recognizes the right of deaf children to utilize
their innate abilities for language development. Through effective
cooperation between home and school, the Clerc Center's goal is
to provide a linguistically rich environment for the acquisition
of American Sign Language and English, as well as to encourage the
continued development of the language of the home. The Clerc Center's
entire school philosophy is grounded in the following beliefs about
language and communication:
- The language a child develops from birth provides the foundation
for literacy, achievement, and full participation in the family,
in school, and in society.
- Visual communication is crucial to a deaf child's linguistic,
cognitive, social, and emotional growth and must begin as early
as possible, at home and at school.
- A solid first language base and a positive sense of self provide
the foundation for each deaf child to acquire the high levels
of proficiency in language and literacy needed for academic success.
Such proficiency also empowers students to develop and utilize
their individual abilities to communicate effectively through
various forms of signed, written, and spoken communication in
a wide range of settings.
- To acquire solid early language competence, deaf children need
frequent and sustained interaction with people who use a language
that is fully accessible to them. Family members, whose active
communication with the child is crucial, as well as deaf peers
and adults whose primary language is American Sign Language, play
very important roles in promoting that competence.
- Well-developed English literacy is a critical factor in deaf
people's full participation in society. A print-rich environment
that provides early and meaningful experience with text is an
extremely important part of a deaf child's education.
- Assistive and augmentative listening devices and technology,
in conjunction with appropriate intervention strategies, can make
significant contributions to the education of children who can
benefit from auditory and speech development.
- Opportunities for parents to learn about American Sign Language,
to receive information about Deaf communities, and to exchange
knowledge and interact with other parents—hearing and deaf—are
important components in the growth, adjustment, language-learning,
and communication skills of both the parents and their child.
- Regardless of a child's age or background, language input must
be child-centered—appropriate to that child's individual
linguistic and communicative needs and development.
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