CDHY – WSD: The Connection

CDHY – WSD: The Connection

In 2009, The Washington State Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY) was established to provide statewide leadership for the coordination and delivery of educational services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing. CDHY is an independent agency within the state of Washington. Its governing Board of Trustees and its Executive Director are appointed by the Governor. All activities of the Center are under the authority of the Executive Director and the Board of Trustees.

CDHY’s three (3) primary responsibilities are articulated in RCW 72.40.015 which are:

To manage and direct the activities of the state school for the deaf (Washington School for the Deaf – WSD);
Provide statewide leadership and support to coordinate regionally delivered educational services in the full range of communication modalities, for children who are deaf or hard of hearing (direct consultative and evaluation services);
Expand system capacity at the local and statewide level by collaborating with appropriate public and private partners for the training and professional development of educators serving children who are deaf or hard of hearing (professional development).

CDHY is the agency to which WSD belongs. The CDHY Board of Trustees oversees all programs and operations at WSD. The Superintendent of WSD reports to the CDHY Executive Director and participates at the table for all board meetings. The Superintendent is a member of the Governor’s statewide Deputy Directors council for all state agencies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Minh Truong

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

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

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’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

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

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

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

[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

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

Attendance Hotlines:
Elementary: VP (360) 334-5449
Secondary: VP (360) 334-5618

Main Office:
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 2017-2024 Washington School for the Deaf. All rights reserved.