The Jean Weingarten Peninsula Oral School for the Deaf Foundation for Hearing Research, in Redwood City, California, is dedicated to meeting the
educational and developmental needs of deaf and hard of hearing children and providing support to their families. The services at JWPOSD include
parent-infant and preschool programs, kindergarten to second grade education on campus, and comprehensive mainstream support services through sixth
grade off campus.
The school was founded thirty years ago by Leahea Grammatico and nine families to provide a learning environment that maximizes the use of each child's
residual hearing and promotes the development of spoken communication through an exciting, interactive, cognitive curriculum. The outstanding staff
at JWPOSD Foundation for Hearing Research bring many years of educational experience and exemplify in their daily teaching the integration of thinking,
listening, and speaking for each child.
JWPOSD students develop their oral communication skills, their self-esteem, and a love of learning through small group instruction and intensive
daily individual therapy which involves parents in every aspect of the child's program. "Parents as Partners" is the key to the eventual successful
mainstreaming of every deaf and hard of hearing child.
Download the School Accountability Report Card (SARC) for the school year 2007-2008 (PDF format, 446Kb).
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- Contact Information
- Directions
- Environs
- Mission Statement
- Educational Philosophy
- History
- Our Staff
- The Family Center
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- Parent and Infant/Toddler
- Preschool
- Academic
- Mainstream
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- Audiological
- Cochlear Implant
- Speech and Language
- Assessment
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- Parent Support Groups
- Summer Sessions
- Professional Outreach
- Graduate Training
- Staff Support
- Research
- Bilingual Services
- Rhythmic Phonetics
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- Events
- Fundraising
- Alumni
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- Admission
- Tuition
- Financial Aid
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About the School
Contact Information
Jean Weingarten Peninsula Oral School for the Deaf
3518 Jefferson Avenue
Redwood City, CA 94062
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Director: Kathleen Daniel Sussman
(650) 365-7500
(650) 365-7557 Fax
Email: jwposd@jwposd.org
Privacy Policy: JWPOSD is committed to the privacy of its donors and does not sell, loan or in any way distribute itÕs mail list or email addresses.
Directions
By Car, from Highway 280
From Highway 280, take the Farm Hill Boulevard exit. Proceed east along Farm Hill Boulevard approximately 2 miles. Farm Hill becomes Jefferson Avenue. The School
is on the left side, at 3518 Jefferson Avenue.
By Car, from Highway 101
From Highway 101, take the Whipple Avenue exit. Go west along Whipple Avenue to El Camino Real, and make a left turn. Proceed to Jefferson Avenue and make a right
turn and continue for about 1-1/2 miles. The School is on the right side at 3518 Jefferson Avenue.
Environs
Located in Redwood City, California, the Jean Weingarten Peninsula Oral School for the Deaf is ideally situated on the Peninsula halfway between San Francisco
and San Jose. JWPOSD serves children within a fifty-mile radius, encompassing a large geographic area including the San Francisco East Bay communities, Silicon
Valley, and the coastside communities of Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. Access to the school is possible through extensive interstate highways. The entire San
Francisco Bay Area offers many housing choices, commuting options, life-long learning opportunities, and recreational outlets.
Mission Statement
JWPOSD - auditory/oral school where deaf children listen, think and talk!
Core Values
- Communication
- Building a community of learners
- Honoring and respecting individual differences
- Commitment to community
Educational Philosophy
Instruction at the Jean Weingarten Peninsula Oral School for the Deaf is distinctive for its emphasis on cognitive development. Children with severe to
profound hearing loss are given an intensive training that focuses on the sequential development of cognitive processes as the basis for acquiring language and
speech. Following the theories of Jean Piaget in child psychology, the school seeks to unfold for each child with a hearing loss, the same intellectual steps
seen in the growth of a normal hearing child. By presenting teaching techniques that are cognitively based, it is believed that preschool deaf children can master
thought patterns and communication appropriate to their age level.
The second area of focus, and equally important, is the school's emphasis on the development and use of residual hearing in each deaf child. Teaching methods
focus on the training of the residual hearing of each child, with the use of advanced amplification equipment such as power hearing aids and cochlear implants,
to a functional level. On-site diagnostics and audiological services allow for the daily monitoring of each child's amplification equipment, and the availability
of loaner hearing aids ensures that every child is given the opportunity to listen everyday.
Every child at JWPOSD gains from a planned teaching strategy that promotes his own ability to think; to express feelings and sensitivities through oral and written
communication; to acquire speech and language from the manipulation of ideas; and to listen with increasing skill and sophistication. Every parent at JWPOSD
gains from the close partnership that exists between them and the child's therapist and teacher as they learn together how to meet each child's special needs
during daily therapy and class. Parent education and counseling are a key focus of the school's total program as the school strives to empower each family with
the information they need to understand their child's hearing loss and to become informed advocates for their child's future needs.
History
In 1969, nine families made a decision on behalf of their deaf and hard of hearing children to mortgage their homes in order to fund the Peninsula Oral School
for the Deaf. They hired Leahea Grammatico to establish this school to ensure that their children would learn to listen and speak.
Thirty years later, their legacy continues as the Jean Weingarten Peninsula Oral School for the Deaf, now an internationally recognized center for auditory-oral
learning, continues to serve deaf children and their families.
The School is recognized as a model of excellence by the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and has been instrumental in the
establishment and mentoring of two new auditory-oral schools in California: the CCHAT Centers (Children's Choice for Hearing and Talking) in Sacramento and
San Diego.
The Foundation for Hearing Research, which funds and operates JWPOSD, assumed the operation and control of these two Centers as of January 1, 2000, as Satellite
Schools. Former long time JWPOSD teacher, Janet Weil, takes on the role of Supervisor of Satellite Services.
The Leahea Grammatico Family Center was opened in 1999 and dedicated to honor the memory of Leahea, a dedicated and brilliant teacher of the deaf. The program
at LGFC contains the following elements:
- Individual daily therapy for the child and parents
- A daily playgroup for toddlers
- A monthly Family Center Support Group for parents
- Occupational Therapy and Audiological Management
Our Staff
JWPOSD is a certified Non Public School with
a total enrollment of 80 children and a professional staff of:
- 15 teachers
- 5 speech and language pathologists
- 4 classroom aides
- 2 part time audiologists
- an occupational therapist
- art and physical education specialists
The Director is Kathleen Daniel Sussman. Kathleen is also the past President of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
The Board of Directors is a voluntary board from the community with representation which includes business, medicine, oral deaf adults, alumnae, and parents.
Educational Programs
Of the 77 children currently enrolled, 25 are in our Family Center, 27 are in our school program and 25 children are provided services in the mainstream - over
80% of the children are cochlear implant users. There are typically hearing children in our reverse mainstream program.
Parent and Infant/Toddler Programs (0-3)
This program serves children birth to three and their
parents in individual therapy sessions where parent-centered instruction is provided twice a week. An individual Family Service Plan is developed with the parents
and the therapist which includes auditory goals, speech, language, and cognition. Diagnostic teaching is a key element in determining the infant's appropriate
use of amplification and ongoing collaboration with the audiologist is an integral part of the parent/infant program. Parents are the primary teacher of the
young child, therefore practical instruction in ways to develop audition, speech, and language are the focus of each session. Parents also participate in a Parents
As Partners support group on a regular basis. When children are developmentally ready they also participate in a small play group two or three times per week
together with normal hearing peers.
Leahea Grammatico Family Center
The center, situated on the JWPOSD campus has facilities
for complete audiological services, conferences, classrooms, individual therapy, sensorimotor integration activities and living quarters to house visiting families,
professionals and student teachers. This environment is comfortable, as well as functional for the learning of language by allowing the children to associate
objects and activities with those at home. it is a wonderfully natural and beautiful place for parents to learn how to help their children.
Preschool Programs
This program serves children from two and a half to seven
years of age in small classrooms where there is daily instruction using a cognitive based curriculum. The focus of the educational program is to provide learning
opportunities which maximize the development of spoken communication through the use of the auditory channel. Each class also has one or two normal hearing peers
to provide appropriate language models. A key component of the JWPOSD program is the intensive 45-minutes of individual therapy provided for each deaf child
daily. Goals and objectives are developed through an Individual Education Plan which is jointly implemented by the therapist, the classroom teacher, and the
parents. The goal for each child is to return to his/her mainstream school as early as possible with communication and academic skills that are equal to their
peers. JWPOSD follows the scope and sequence of the local school districts so that all children are well prepared to enter their home school.
Academic Programs
Each year JWPOSD designs the class structure of the school to meet
the needs of the children being served. First and Second Grade classes are usually available with some children attending their home school in the afternoon.
The goal of the academic program is to have each child leave JWPOSD as a competent reader with all academic skills at grade level. Throughout the curriculum
there is an emphasis on the development of metacognitive skills as well as auditory, speech, and language skills. All children are encouraged to participate
in a variety of mainstream activities in their neighborhoods.
Mainstream Programs
Mainstream support is determined for each child through the Individual Education Plan and may include a variety of services. A Transition Plan is developed with
the parents to help select an appropriate mainstream setting for each child. Some children are provided with daily support services from a JWPOSD staff person
for all core subjects in their first year in their home school. This type of support would offer preteaching of concepts and vocabulary, in class support, and
individual therapy. The staff person also provides inservice to the mainstream teachers and on-going communication with all staff and parents. Some children
receive support services two or three times per week depending on need. Real Time Captioning is another service provided for students Fifth grade and above.
Additional support services include on-going maintenance of the child's amplification equipment and inservice to the mainstream staff.
Each year, during the third week of September, an in-service is offered to all mainstream teachers and classroom aides who work with the children who have transitioned
from our school. Included in this full day are the following:
- a Parent's Perspective
- basics in audiology
- specific needs of a child with hearing loss in the classroom
- mainstream strategy suggestions
- developing peer relationships
The in-service is open to all professionals and parents who have children in the mainstream setting. An outreach program is available.
Clinical Services
Audiological
JWPOSD provides daily monitoring, repairs and maintenance of all amplification devices, routine tympanometry, a complete loaner hearing aid program, and a collaborative
model of close interaction with each child's private audiologist. Monitoring of all cochlear implants is provided by the support of California Ear Institute
and the CI team at the school.
Cochlear Implant
The school has established a Regional Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program and is working with four hospitals in the Bay area to help select appropriate candidates,
provide preimplant training and post implant habilitation. The school has developed a model curriculum for preparing young children and their families for surgery.
All children receive 45 minutes of individual therapy daily. Cochlear implant services are also offered for children in their mainstream school.
Speech and Language
At JWPOSD daily individual therapy sessions for each child is provided
for 45 minutes. This is an integral part of our educational program and provides the opportunity to integrate audition, cognition, speech, and language. Parents
are expected to participate in each individual therapy session in the Parent-Infant Program and participate at least on a weekly basis in the Preschool, in the
classroom, and in therapy. Diagnostic services, as well as therapy services, are available for CI children not enrolled in the school.
Occupational Therapy
As an integral part of addressing the children's needs, we provide comprehensive assessments and intervention services for individuals with sensory integration,
gross and fine motor, oral motor, and visual deficits. We also address cognitive skills including focus and attention, play and social skills, and memory.
JWPOSD's Pediatric Occupational Therapist provides the expertise in incorporating these diverse needs into classroom activities as well as addressing them
in direct treatment. As new children enter the program, they are screened to identify areas of concern and, if necessary, a plan of action is designed to address
them. While in the program, the occupational therapist monitors the progress, consults and collaborates with the school's staff and parents, and provides one
on one treatment when needed.
Occupational Therapy - Adult Aural Rehabilitation
Services are available to adults who receive cochlear implants. Weekly sessions focus on listening skills and speech.
Assessment
All children at JWPOSD are assessed on an annual basis
using standardized tests by their educational team. Results are incorporated into the development of an Individual Educational Plan for each academic year
for children age three and above. For children from birth to age three, an Individual Family Service Plan is developed. These form the basis for each child's
educational program and are reviewed quarterly with parents. Individual assessments for children who are not students at JWPOSD are available b appointment.
These assessments would include standardized speech and language testing by our speech pathologist and educational personnel, an audiological evaluation as
well as a diagnostic period in an appropriate classroom. A comprehensive report will follow, including test results and educational recommendations.
Additional Programs
Parent Support Groups
"Parents As Partners" is the motto at JWPOSD. Parents are an integral part of their child's entire educational process and must be given the tools to help them
understand and maximize their child's learning potential. Parent support includes one on one involvement with their child's therapist and teacher, bimonthly
meetings with a Parent Share Program, and monthly evening meetings facilitated by a psychologist for the entire school family. During all parent education programs,
free child care is provided. New parents are also provided with a support parent of an older student.
Staff Development and Parent Support
We are developing a bridge between the information provided to us by clinical psychology and education. It is a clinically informed pedagogy, helping teachers
and SLPs guide parents as they navigate the everyday issues of having a deaf child. Workshops are held for staff once a month.
Support Services
JWPOSD utilizes the consulting services of a Behavioral Specialist and an Occupational Therapist to guide the staff in providing appropriate support for children
with additional needs.
Summer Sessions
This summer, JWPOSD offers a 3-week day camp program that involves the hearing siblings of current students as well as former students, with the support of
deaf and hard of hearing teens as role models. The camp is organized around a theme and includes a variety of activities and field trip experiences! This summer's
theme is "The Great Outdoors". Group counseling for the hearing siblings is integrated into the camp experience.
Professional Outreach
Pediatric Cochlear Implants
JWPOSD is recognized for its expertise in pediatric cochlear implants; the school serves the largest population of children with cochlear implants in northern
California. 85% of our children have cochlear implants. Workshops and training are offered to public schools covering all areas of cochlear implants including:
- patient selection
- pre-implant training
- parent and sibling training
- mapping support
- post-implant habilitation
- school in-service
The school's director, Kathleen Sussman, is a certified NECCI Trainer (Network of Educators of Children with Cochlear Implants), with extensive experience in
pediatric cochlear implants.
Speech Power Through Rhythmic Phonetics
Rhythmic Phonetics is a comprehensive program developed at JWPOSD to improve speech intelligibility. It is a tool which will help in making the "invisible"
speech sounds visible by assigning a specific reference movement to each phoneme produce in the spoken language.
Rhythmic Phonetics addresses the suprasegmentals and segmental features of speech using a system of 32 reference movements that involves the whole body in the
speech production process.
Rhythmic Phonetic workshops are offered at JWPOSD as a full-day
training program. For a brochure and information about the next workshop, please contact the school.
Rhythmic Phonetics workshops can be arranged off-site as well. Over the past five years, more than 500 parents, teachers of the deaf, and speech pathologists
have been trained and are successfully using Rhythmic Phonetics with deaf and hard of hearing children and adults, as well as normal hearing children and adults.
It has also proven to be a useful tool for English as a Second Language (ESL), people with learning disabilties, and stroke victims.
Music Program
JWPOSD views music as an integral part of the entire curriculum. The school begins each day with all parents, children, and staff participating for twenty
minutes in singing, vocal exercises, rhythm, and movement. Music focuses on the development of language, speech, audition and progmatics - it impacts all areas
of development. Formal music instruction for all children includes using a variety of Orff instruments, playing the recorder and developing the foundation
for understanding music notation.
Graduate Training
JWPOSD provides training internships for graduate
students in speech pathology, audiology, and education of the deaf. Each semester we offer two or three placements to graduate students from San Francisco
State University, San Jose State University, and Smith College/Clarke School for the Deaf.
Staff Support
JWPOSD is committed to providing the childcare support so essential to our community of professionals. Childcare is available to the infants of our teachers.
When the get older they are included in our toddler and preschool classes as reverse mainstream students.
Research
JWPOSD has been involved in the ongoing clinical studies of various cochlear implant devices with the California Ear Institute (CEI). CEI is a leading center
for the audiological management of children with cochlear implants. The Children's Center at CEI is directed by Lisa Tonokawa, C.C.C. Aud., who also serves
as JWPOSD's consulting audiologist. Becky Highlander, also a CEI audiologist, provides services at JWPOSD two days per week.
Bilingual Services
JWPOSD serves a population of Spanish families where English is not the primary language spoken at home. Therefore, instruction for parents is offered in Spanish
in order to insure their understanding of their child's special needs. All Individual Education Plans are translated into Spanish and translation services
are provided for all parent education meetings. Small classes are available for the parents to learn the cognitive strategies used in the curriculum as well
as techniques for developing audition, speech and language in their children. These classes serve as a means for teaching English to the parents. As the children
develop competencies in spoken English then they are taught a weekly session in Spanish. JWPOSD nurtures the self esteem of all the children to show pride
in their heritage through ongoing school-wide programs on culture and customs.
News and Information
Events
Parent Education Series - call JWPOSD for dates and topics.
For information on any or all of the events please call (650) 365 7500, fax to (650) 365 7557 or email jwposd@jwposd.org
Alumni
Hello Alums! We missed you at our first ever reunion weekend. Though your company was missed we had a blast! Since everyone had so much fun
we felt that an annual gathering was in order.
When: Saturday, July 26, 2008 2:00
Š 9:00pm
Where: Red Morton Community
Park
There will be activities for all! Plus a downhome barbeque in the evening! Stay tuned for more details!
kerickson@jwposd.org
Privacy Policy: JWPOSD is committed to the privacy of its donors and does not sell, loan or in any way distribute mailing lists or email addresses
Fundraising
"Tee off Fore our Kids" Golf Tournament scheduled for Monday, June 23, 2008 at the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club. Shotgun 12:30.
Includes lunch, green fees, cocktails, dinner and awards.
Benefit Event scheduled for Saturday, November 15th, 2008
Contact: jwposd@jwposd.org tel (650) 365 7500
fax (650)365 7557 for information
Getting In
Admission Procedures
All children must have a medical release and clinical diagnosis
from an audiologist for admission to JWPOSD. Parents are requested to bring current medical and audiological information with them for their first scheduled
visit to the school. Children are placed for a six weeks diagnostic period during which time parents must work with their school districts to request placement
through the IFSP IEP process.
Tuition
Almost all JWPOSD students are funded through the IFSP/IEP process with their local school districts or through insurance coverage. Those children who are not
funded by their school districts are eligible for tuition assistance. The daily rate for a full day program is $128.00 per day, which includes all educational
programs, 45 minutes of individual therapy each day, assessments, parent counseling, and audiological managment. Individual speech/language/auditory therapy
is $92.00 per session. Cochlear Implant Habilitiation is $90.00 per session.
Financial Aid
Parents whose children are not placed at JWPOSD through the IFSP/IEP process or through insurance benefits can apply for scholarship assistance through the Financial
Aid Committee of the JWPOSD Board. Scholarships are granted based on demonstrated need with a required application packet and IRS documentation.