The Learning Center for the Deaf’s goal is for each student to maximize their personal, educational, social, communicative and vocational potential.  To achieve that goal requires careful attention to what constitutes the most appropriate learning environment for a student. 
TLC offers several mainstreaming options to help parents and students determine the most beneficial learning environment.

Our high school and middle school students participate in long established program agreements with two excellent public schools in Framingham, the Cameron Middle School and Framingham High School.  Students are mainstreamed in classes at these two schools with professional ASL interpreters provided for all their classes by The Learning Center for the Deaf. This collegial relationship with Framingham School Department has been very successful.  At Framingham High School, students have the option to participate in their grade level classes or take Advanced Placement classes in preparation for college.

In our elementary grades, we have the capability to design individual partial-mainstream opportunities for numerous students, as the TEAM deems appropriate.  We currently have two students who attend TLC part-time and attend their district school part-time. Another participates in his home district school for special events and field trips. Arrangements are made with public school districts to include our students in their extra-curricular activities, if appropriate.

Each partial-mainstream opportunity is uniquely designed to meet the individual needs of that particular child’s education.  Collaboration and planning are critical to ensure that the student will continue to have equal access to the general curriculum when he/she attends their local school with non-signing peers and teaching staff.

For those students for whom a full mainstream environment seems appropriate, TLC is able to continue to provide consultative services through our TOPP program.

For deaf children who have special needs, TLC offers the opportunity to move from a self-contained classroom at TLC to a mainstream environment on campus for all or part of their curriculum.  Students with other disabilities are offered opportunities to be “mainstreamed” at TLC with the general student population as soon as it is deemed appropriate by the student’s TEAM.