Student Support Services
ASL Department
Metro Deaf School’s American Sign Language (ASL) department consists of three ASL Specialists/Teachers who partner with classroom teachers and staff to provide ASL support services for student’s ASL needs as it relates to each student’s IEP. Since several students arrive at Metro Deaf School (MDS) at different stages of language development related to ASL, from nearly no language to fully formed language skills, the IEP team at MDS determines what ASL skills are needed for those students.
An example would be for a deaf or a hard of hearing student at elementary level who arrives from another country at MDS with no ASL history and based on a decision from the IEP team, a language facilitator can be provided to support the student’s language development. Another would be if a student in middle or high school is transferred to MDS from an educational program with minimal ASL exposure. Again, based on the IEP team’s decision, ASL support services are established and provided to the student on a weekly basis to ease the student’s transition to an ASL rich environment at MDS. Or a Deaf student who has been exposed to ASL since birth but struggles with language can still receive ASL support services.
In addition, all students from K-8 grades take an ASL class year round that covers linguistics of ASL and ASL Literature. While Deaf Studies is also woven into the curriculum for K-5 grades, it is also taught as a course to middle and high school students.
Contact Information
Melissa Sweetmilk
Principal
msweetmilk@mdsmn.org
(651) 224-3995- Main Office
(651) 964-1636- Direct (VP)
DeafBlind
Metro Deaf School has a number of professionals who work with DeafBlind students and their teams. This includes a team of trained interveners, a Teacher for the Blind/Visually Impaired (TBVI) and an Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) who all know ASL and communicate directly with the students. Teams may have Protactile training if appropriate to support students.
As members of the educational team, they promote DeafBlind students' academic and social success with specialized services that may include but are not limited to:
- Orientation and Mobility training
- Braille instruction
- Modification of materials
- Assistive technology training and support
- Access to large group events through close vision video monitors
- Participation in DeafBlind club
Mental Health
Metro Deaf School has a Mental Health Team that includes two School Social Workers, a School Counselor, and a School Psychologist available to support students in Pre-K to 12th grades, families, and staff. The Mental Health Team serves as the link between home, school, and community. As members of the education team, they promote and support students' academic and social success with specialized services that may include, but are not limited to:
- Work with students individually, in small groups, and in the classroom.
- Teach students skills for problem solving and decision making.
- Support students with improving self-esteem, social skills, and self control.
- Support students in identifying and applying coping skills for challenges either at home or in school.
- Teach students to advocate for themselves.
- Work with students to address school concerns (i.e., attendance, grades, discipline, etc.).
- Advocate for student needs.
- Develop and maintain connections between families and school.
- Provide families with resources, information, and referrals to community services/agencies.
- Collaboration and consultation with community agencies, organizations, and other professionals.
- Collaborate with classroom staff to develop classroom management strategies.
- Complete Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs) and behavioral consultation as requested.
- Complete evaluations in areas of Intellectual Functioning, Social Emotional Behavioral Skills, and Functional/Adaptive Skills.
- Involvement in school wide character and anti-bullying education.
- Identify students in crisis and provide support.
Contact Information
Melissa Sweetmilk
Principal
msweetmilk@mdsmn.org
(651) 224-3995- Main Office
(651) 964-1636- Direct (VP)
Occupational Therapy
At MDS the Occupational Therapy staff help students develop skills in order to achieve their highest level of success and independence within the classroom. Students are seen in the engaging OT/PT room, in their classroom, or as part of S.M.A.R.T programming (Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training).
In the school setting, the occupational therapy staff assist in the student’s ability to engage in school-related activities and assist in strengthening a student’s skills in many ways. These include:
- Improving academic skills needed to complete classroom tasks. Examples include: handwriting, attention span.
- Addressing visual perceptual challenges that affect the student’s ability to complete school related tasks.
- Addressing fine and gross motor skills needed during class time and recess.
- Improving independence with basic self-help skills that are performed at school.
- Addressing difficulty regulating the senses to improve educational performance.
Contact Information
Melissa Sweetmilk
Principal
msweetmilk@mdsmn.org
(651) 224-3995- Main Office
(651) 964-1636- Direct (VP)
Physical Therapy
MDS has a full-time Physical Therapist on staff. The Physical Therapist becomes involved with a student if there is a disability or deficit in their strength, balance, speed and agility, or coordination that interferes with their educational performance and ability to benefit from their education program. When the team agrees that Physical Therapy is needed as a resource to support a student, services can be added to promote motor development and the student’s ability to participate in everyday routines and activities that are part of their program.
The Physical Therapist designs and performs therapeutic interventions focusing on functional mobility and safe, efficient access and participation in educational activities and routines in the natural learning environment. Specialized services the Physical Therapist offers may include but are not limited to:
- Gathering appropriate information from students, parents, and other team members regarding the child’s functional motor performance in the school setting
- Selecting, administering, and interpreting appropriate screening instruments or standardized assessments
- Collaborating with students’ IEP teams, examining and evaluating eligible students’ strengths and areas of need to establish their ability to participate in school activities and routines
- Designing and implementing PT interventions that will promote students’ growth to enable them to benefit from their educational program
- Measuring and documenting student progress resulting from the designed PT interventions
- Teaching and training family members and educational personnel in an effort to help the student achieve their IEP goals and objectives.
- Adapting environments to facilitate student access and participation in their educational program
- Educating school personnel and families to promote inclusion of students within the educational setting
- Referring students to other related service personnel and to healthcare providers as appropriate
Contact Information
Melissa Sweetmilk
Principal
msweetmilk@mdsmn.org
(651) 224-3995- Main Office
(651) 964-1636- Direct (VP)
Speech and Language
Metro Deaf School has two Speech/Language Pathologists who use American Sign Language as well as Spoken English, who serve our Pre-K through 12+ population. They help students develop their overall communication and language skills. They do this by focusing on strategies that will promote positive interactions with signing and non-signing individuals.
The Speech/ Language Pathologist evaluates, plans and provides speech and language services based on each student’s IEP. Goals for each student will vary and depend on the needs of each student and family. Students are seen in the Speech/Language Pathologists room or in the classroom.
The following are areas that may be worked on during speech/language sessions:
- Expressive and receptive language (ASL and English)
*Expressive language means being able to put thoughts into words and sentences in a way that makes sense. Receptive language means the ability to understand and comprehend language. Struggles in one or more of these areas impacts a student’s ability to communicate clearly. At MDS, language therapy is conducted in ASL or spoken English depending on the student. It focuses on improving students vocabulary, ability to answer/ask questions, follow directions, supporting in class comprehension, etc. - Literacy support
- Speech reading (lipreading)
- Articulation
- Auditory training
- Improving ASL/spoken English vocabulary
- Swallowing
There is a range of various types of amplification that students at Metro Deaf School use such as cochlear implants, BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) and BTE/ITE hearing aid (Behind The Ear/In The Ear), to name a few. Some students choose to not use any type of amplification.
Contact Information
Melissa Sweetmilk
Principal
msweetmilk@mdsmn.org
(651) 224-3995- Main Office
(651) 964-1636- Direct (VP)