Administrative Contact

Candice Hartranft
Director of Special Education
847-965-9040 x801
chartranft@ntdse.org

Service Description

NTDSE is proud to offer an array of high-quality programming for students with hearing loss. Our Deaf/Hard of Hearing team includes four dually certified teachers ( DHH and LBS I) along with ASL interpreters and sign language paraprofessionals. With this team, NTDSE is able to meet students’ unique needs through self-contained special education classrooms (located within the Molloy Education Center or satellite locations)  or itinerant services within our member districts.

Our DHH program supports a Total Communication Approach. This means we will explicitly teach and accept communication in many forms (oral, ASL, picture exchange, Assistive Technology). DHH team members will work together, with families, to support and honor communication modes that will best meet the child’s needs.

Academic Instruction

NTDSE relies on evidenced-based practices to support students’ academic needs. Programming has an explicit focus on literacy development.

Literacy Programming includes a focus on direct instruction in basic early literacy skills at the younger grades and expands to include explicit instruction in vocabulary and comprehension supports.

Classrooms utilize: 

• Foundations for Literacy
• Visual Phonics

Skill Development

DHH team members work with students on skills such as:

• Self Advocacy
• Listening and Auditory Training
• Sign Language
• Language Development

Classroom Supports

NTDSE self-contained classrooms are highly structured and include:

• Schedules
• Visual Support
• Language rich experiences