About WSD

About WSD

ESTABLISHED IN 1886

Washington School for the Deaf is the state of Washington’s only ASL-English bilingual school serving deaf and hard or hearing students in Pre-K through 12th grade.

WSD’s teachers and staff are committed to supporting the school’s mission statement of ensuring we provide an inclusive, student centered and culturally rich environment to ensure all students become bilingual and life-long learners.

At WSD, our vision for our students is for them to be Bilingual, Empowered, Successful, for Today and Tomorrow- The BEST.

OUR MISSION

Provide an inclusive, student centered and culturally rich environment to ensure all students become bilingual and life-long learners.

OUR VISION

WSD students are Bilingual, Empowered, Successful for Today and Tomorrow! The BEST!

OUR GOAL

WSD seeks to provide an educational environment that both challenges and nurtures students.

Comprehensive Educational Program

To fully support Deaf children’s linguistic, cognitive, social and emotional development, the Washington School for the Deaf (WSD) provides a comprehensive educational program that includes a commitment to promoting the acquisition, maintenance and study of American Sign Language (ASL) and English for all deaf and hard of hearing children. This commitment supports students’ development of ASL receptive and expressive skills as well as reading and writing in English and, when appropriate for the child, spoken English.

With ASL I could learn everything. I’ve made so much progress since I came here. I’m grateful to my parents for sending me to WSD. In my opinion, you’ll want to come here.

Yajaira

WSD Alumna

Our daughter’s first language is ASL. It’s very important she understand ASL.

Minh Truong

Parent

It is very crucial that the children have access to language development. A natural acquisition of language right from the very beginning.

Pamela Whitney

Pre-School Teacher

I can tell he just feels like a whole new world has been open to him in how to communicate with his hands and he has already made soooooo much progress….I’ve always felt like I had to micromanage everything for him and like nobody else understood what he needed and it’s just so nice now to just know he is in good hands and around people who understand him in a way even I don’t and we are all just amazed at how much even a month has affected him. He wakes up begging to go to school.

Parent

I’ve seen a lot of changes because the communication was there to be able to interact, socialize, boost her self-esteem. The teachers, the staff, very positive reinforcements here.

Brent Neatherlin

Parent

Before I got to WSD, I didn’t sign well. I used a little bit of gesturing. When I got here, I got better and better.

Julian

Student

I asked my mother to send me here. It was a big decision for her because I lived 8 hours away from here. My mother made the right choice to send me here. It was worth it.

Randall

WSD alumnus

I am very thankful for all the support given to us as a family, for every word of encouragement and time dedicated. Since day one we had a very warm welcoming and we felt the passion and dedication that everyone has, of teaching with a smile. Thank you as well for all your patience with [her] throughout this new learning experience.

Parent

[We] came to the school. She fell in love with it. The teachers, the one-on-one, the bi-lingual, the support for speech, for occupational therapy Gabby had at that time. There was a plethora of resources for us. And my husband and I had children. They are our responsibility. We want the best for her. We want her to succeed in the world. Here she goes.

Samantha Grosmick

Parent

He would start telling me ‘I just want to read at recess. I don’t want anybody to talk to me,’ and I’m like ‘no’. He’s outgoing. That’s not in his spirit. We started looking at different schools and was wowed by this school because of the socialization at recess and lunch and in the classroom is amazing.

Lafawne Robinson

Parent

We know that learning is a social activity. It’s social in nature. People learn from each other all the time. Children learn the fastest from their peers.

Shauna Bilyeu

Superintendent, WSD

Every deaf child can learn just the same as hearing children can. I think that one problem is that often there are misconceptions about deaf children’s abilities.

Jane Mulholland

Former Superintendent, WSD

So in one year [Jonathan] has made amazing progress. I think that just how much ASL is going on in the classroom has really made all the difference. So he is exposed to it all day.

Lisa Ronda

Parent

A strong language foundation is very important for their success in life. Research shows that deaf students who have American Sign Language skills are then more successful in English.

April McArthur

Former ASL-English Bilingual Program Service Director

Once Nicolas started coming here, he blossomed and bloomed. I’m happy to say he walks, talks, runs, reads and plays basketball and does all the things they said he would never do.

Jeanmarie Moore

Parent

ASL is their language. That gives them the self-esteem and they have a foundation then to support their English development.

Jennifer Ellis

Former Work Education Teacher, Transition Needs Team

I like that I can look directly at my teacher. I don’t have to look at the interpreter. I can get the teaching directly from the teacher.

Ashantay

Student

WSD Main Office:
3107 E. Evergreen Blvd
Vancouver, WA 98661

Phone: (360) 334-5618
Fax: (360) 418-4353

CDHY Administration:
611 Grand Blvd
Vancouver, WA 98661

Phone: (360) 696-6525
Fax: (360) 696-6291
Email: contact.wsd@cdhy.wa.gov

School Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8am-3pm
Friday: 8am-12pm

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday: 7:30am-4pm

© Copyright 2017-2025 Washington School for the Deaf. All rights reserved.