Our campus is currently open. Please email advancement@tlcdeaf.org if you have a question about visiting TLC.
Please continue to view and check back to this dedicated COVID-19 web page for new updates and information as they are made available. You can also follow us on Facebook, or fill out a general inquiry form on our website.
General COVID Safety Protocol
We appreciate the support and diligence of our families in monitoring the health of each student every day. We continue to adhere to all protocols possible to avoid transmission of the virus, including our current cleaning and sanitizing schedule on campus. Please review this video about TLC's general protocols and strategies to mitigate risk of spreading COVID-19.
Marie Philip and Walden School
Marie Philip (MPS) and Walden School's COVID-19 Reopening Plans have been transitioned to our Pandemic Recovery and Safety Plan, as shared below.
WIth COVID continuing to be present in our communities, this plan is dynamic and not intended to be a final document. Prioritizing safety for our students, staff, families and community, we will continue to share appropriate updates to our plan on this page and note summaries of the adjustment as appropriate. We will also continue to communicate directly with our families.
Our education leaders remain engaged with several governance organizations, including Massachusetts Education Commissioner Jeff Riley, Department of Public Health (DPH), Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE) and Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools (maaps), as well as review all regularly updated policies and documentation regarding local and state health guidelines.
Events will now be permitted on campus at 50% room capacity
Large groups should still wear masks
Visitors are allowed on site, but required to wear a mask
3-18-22:
Face Masks continue to be required for Walden School, Audiology Clinic, Walden Community Services, and for anyone entering our Nursing Offices.
Face masks are optional for MPS and Interpreting
Starting March 25, TLC will no longer require social distancing, limited cafeteria seating or one-way entrances and exits
2-25-22:
Removal of Visitor Screening Policy
2-4-22:
Revised COVID Flow Chart
Addition of Antigen Home Testing Program and Test and Stay Program
1-22-22:
Extension of mask mandate through February 28, 2022;
DESE has not approved remote learning at this time. Teachers will do their best to provide asynchronous work (e.g. Google classroom work) for those students who must quarantine;
No in person meetings are currently allowed;
No outside visitors except for those providing IEP services;
All off campus events including Athletic events, off-campus internships, residential events, and field trips are canceled through January 24, 2022, and then will be evaluated on a week-by-week basis;
Cafeteria tables will seat 4 students per table and doors will be open slightly for air circulation.
1-14-22:
Redesigned Flow Chart with aligned protocols for students and staff as well as revisions to quarantine time for close contact and suspected positive exposures
11-12-21:
Revised Executive Summary and Letter from Leadership (page 4-5)
Parent/Caregiver Communication contact list (page 7)
Updated Student Flow Chart for COVID-19 screening, protocols and isolation considerations (page 9)
Student Exposure to COVID-19 for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals (page 9-10)
DESE extension of school mask mandate through January 2022 (page 11)
Student mental health support and resources (page 14)
Staff reporting transparency and protocols for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals (page 15-16)
6-7-21:
Continue mask wearing indoors and outdoors as we are following congregate care setting protocol. (Page 29)
Students with services (i.e. SLP , OT, or related) will now be able to enter the specialist's spaces rather than the pre-assigned designated space that was set up during stricter cohort groupings. (Page17, 20)
Reopening campus for prospective visits (preferred on individual basis vs. group). Families must adhere to attestation form and temperature checks upon arrival and remain socially distance from classrooms. (Page 17, 29)
In addition to IEP-based field trips, we are now allowing field trips to take place across all school departments, while practicing social distancing and continued mask-wearing. Written permission from families will be requested in advance. (Page 17, 34)
5-7-21:
Small group meetings may begin in person on campus where appropriate and following capacity guidelines (page 19)
Clarification on student absences for excused/unexcused situations; Emphasize importance of communicating with Principal or Teacher in advance, noting some classes no longer participate in Zoom sessions because all students have returned to in person learning (page 25)
Reference MIAA guidelines for after school activities and athletics protocols (page 34)
4-30-21:
Clarification on TLC employee quarantine protocols for vaccinated staff (page 36)
4-16-2021:
Effective April 26, 2021 (page 16):
Secondary (MS/HS) returns to full 5 day in person learning (also page 21);
ECC Wednesday schedule moves to Friday;
Preschool will be half day on Fridays with continued virtual home visits;
Kindergarten will be full day on Fridays;
Wednesdays will shift to full day learning except for designated PD days: April 14; May 12; June 9; July 14.
Page 17:
After school outdoor activities will resume;
Begin on-campus student internships through the transition program;
Resume functional academics' IEP driven independent living skills field trips;
Begin increased flexibility mixing student cohorts and staff, while adhering to the covid safety and health protocols.
Page 20:
Classrooms, at times, may follow either the 6 feet social distancing requirement from the CDC, or may have classrooms with 3 feet of space in between, as mandated by DESE;
Students will be allowed to wait outdoors for their school vehicle during dismissal time, with 3 feet of space in between.
4-2-2021:
Middle School students return to five day instruction beginning 4/26/21; High School remains in hybrid schedule until further notice (page 16);
Beginning 4/28/21, Wednesday half-day instruction will end except for designated professional development days – currently assigned as May 12, June 9 and July 14. On those dates, students will be dismissed at Noon. Dates are subject to change (Page 16, 25)
3-12-2021:
Cafeteria guidelines extended to all students (page 11);
Outdoor recess space expansion (page 31);
MPS Residential Dorms Reopening Update (page 33);
Reopening of staff lounge areas (page 42)
3-5-2021:
MPSElementary students return to five day in-person instruction on April 5; ECC begins five day in-person instruction on April 26; Wednesdays remain half day with 12PM dismissal; MPS residential pauses student return with tentative plan for March 17 pending staffing and safety guidelines (page 15)
2-26-2021:
MPS ECC students return to four day in-person instruction starting March 25 (page 15)
2-5-2021:
MPS residential students return starting 2/22 (page 15)
1-29-2021:
Elementary students return to 4 days per week (page 15)
1-21-2021:
Removal of required Influenza vaccination; Supportive narrative about secondary cohort groups.
1-8-2021:
Updated CDC definition of Close Contact; Additional files for Cab Procedures; Addition of daily parent attestation form request; Checklist for positive COVID case in community; Adjusted hybrid schedule reflective January 11
12-18-2020:
Rollback to Phase 2 Remote Learning beginning December 21; Guidance regarding 1:1 assessments; List of required student forms
12-11-2020:
Cafeteria guidelines for students
11-13-2020:
Updated cab procedures; Health and Safety signage
10-29-2020:
Addendum (pg. 41) to Hybrid Model and student return to in person learning
10-23-2020:
Updated links to external documents and forms
*Please Note: Due to the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, the at-home rapid testing program and the consent for at-school testing, TLC is no longer conducting contact tracing at school. Please refer to our Flow Chart for guidelines about our protocols.
TLC will participate in the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Public Health’s at-home antigen testing program.
Please opt-in by filling out this form. For Multilingual Forms, click here.
If a student or staff member begins to exhibit signs of COVID-19 during the school day, we will also provide testing on-campus. Consent is required to participate in the at-school symptomatic testing program.
To opt-in to this Consent, please fill out this online form. For printable multilingual forms,click here.
Many of TLC's community programs and services are open and operating in-person. Others continue to offer both in-person and virtual/remote services where appropriate or requested.
We have organized the list below of Frequently Asked Questions that we hope our community finds helpful in relation to COVID-19 guidelines and community programs and services. These questions are dynamic and may be adjusted at any time according to local and state guidance.
frequently asked questions
What are COVID-19 Symptoms?
Below are symptoms which should be monitored:
Temperature of 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, feeling feverish/warm or had chills, or shaking
Nasal congestion or runny nose not due to other known causes, such as allergies
New muscle aches or any other signs of illness
When should I keep my child home from school?
Please refer to our Recovery Guidelines and Safety Plan for guidance on when your child can go to school and when they should remain home.
Where can I go to get tested for COVID?
Please find COVID-19 testing sites here.
Are there free testing sites local to TLC?
The City of Framingham has posted free testing sites by appointment only. All testing sites are open to all residents of Massachusetts.
Which States are "Safe" for Travel?
Please review the Mass.gov COVID-19 Travel Order web page for up-to-date information about domestic and international travel guidelines.
Where can I find information about COVID cases in my town?
Information reported to DESE can be found here. The state also updates a weekly color-coded COVID map by community, which can be found here.
What happens if my child develops symptoms while at school?
Should a child develop symptoms while on campus, they will be separated from their peers and monitored by our Health Services Department. If their symptoms match those associated with COVID-19, we will arrange for the child to be tested, and continue to quarantine them until we receive results. If the child is negative for COVID and symptoms lessen or go away, the student will be able to return to their dorm/common spaces with their peers and staff.
What happens if a staff member develops symptoms while with my child on campus?
If a staff member falls ill during the shift, the staff reports to their supervisor and Human Resources, and will immediately self-isolate until additional testing or a diagnosis can be determined. All COVID-like symptoms will be monitored and traced according to policy.
Can I visit my child on campus?
Yes, contact your child’s therapist to arrange a visit.
Is Walden School Accepting New Referrals?
Yes. We continue to support the needs of youth ages 8-22. To start your process, please fill out this form to contact Admissions.
What do I do if I have more questions?
Please contact Interim Director Karen Bishop or call (508) 283-1046 (VP).
Are therapists allowed to make home visits?
At this time, WCS is offering hybrid services to support behavioral health for families with a deaf child or parent. Some therapists will make home visits; however, this is determined on a case-by-case basis. Some deciding factors include determining the appropriate space inside the family’s home as well as the space around the home, such as a park; evaluating the urgency of the youth’s need to see a therapist, and assessing the risk involved if the therapists were to make in-person visits.
Families will be asked which method they prefer for their consultations and visits - Telehealth (Virtual), in-person, or a combination of both.
Will therapists be wearing masks?
Therapists will be wearing masks if social distancing is not possible. Therapists will also bring extra masks for the families if social distancing is not possible and the family does not have a mask available.
How do I know if my insurance accepts Telehealth?
All major insurances are allowing Telehealth at this time. We encourage you to reach out to your insurance company if you are unsure.
What do I do if I have more questions?
Please contact Elisa Valles or 508-283-7271 (VP) if you have any more questions.
Will interpreters be going on-site for client support? Yes, interpreters will continue to be available for on-site, in-person services and will follow the current health guidelines and protocols as set by TLC, CDC, DESE, State and local officials. Though remote interpreting is still highly encouraged when possible, in-person interpreting services are available when necessary.
Will interpreters be wearing masks?
Yes, our staff have masks that they will wear when working on-site.
What services do you offer?
We offer a wide variety of Deaf and ASL Interpreting services -- from medical appointments to academics. All TLC interpreters hold national, state and/or educational credentials. We are able to provide services for deaf, Deaf-Blind and hard of hearing individuals. Please contact us for more information.
Is Your Testing Site Open?
Our Testing Site is currently closed. Please continue to follow our COVID updates or check our Interpreting webpage for up-to-date information.
*Our Public School Partnerships Program offers advocacy for parents and school districts during this challenging climate to provide a support system for monitoring deaf and hard of hearing students’ academic and developmental progress.
What type of masks will be used in the public school classrooms?
Students should be included in the process of advocating for the mask that works best for their hearing and speechreading needs. Clear view masks and face shields provide improved speechreading ability, but may also degrade the acoustic signal. Cloth/surgical masks provide a clearer acoustic signal, but obscure speechreading cues. It is important that educational teams work with the student to identify the mask set-up that is most appropriate and comfortable for this particular student's needs. Each district will be purchasing and providing masks/face shields for their staff.
Where can we purchase clear view masks? *This list is compiled from community recommendations, donations and TLC purchases. There are certainly additional vendors to consider. We encourage our community to do thorough research and try several brands or styles to decide which may suit their family needs.
What are back to school in-servicesgoing to look like in the Fall?
PSP staff are working a hybrid mixture of remote and in-person services, depending on the developmental need of the student, and distance of the district from the consultant.
What safety measures will be implemented when passing the HAT between teachers?
Per Phonak's Covid-19 Guidelines, Roger Touchscreens may be sanitized using water-based disinfectant solutions (preferred) or solutions with 70% isopropanol. Do not use bleach (chlorine or peroxides), as this may damage equipment. Wipe the device. Do not spray disinfectant directly on it or immerse it in disinfectant. Disinfectant must be used according to supplier specification such as contact time, dry rub after applying disinfectant, drying time and other as applicable
What do I do if I have more questions?
Please contact Director of Public School Partnerships Kym Meyer.
Is Audiology open for patients?
Yes, the Audiology Clinic is open to see patients at this time.
What services are currently available?
Currently, all services are being offered including, but not limited to: adult and pediatric hearing evaluations, hearing aid evaluations, hearing aid dispensing, hearing aid checks/troubleshooting, and cochlear implant mapping/programming. Services can be scheduled as either an in-clinic visit or curbside visit. Telehealth consultations are also being offered as well.
What safety measures are in place inside the Clinic?
Our staff will be wearing PPE/masks at all times. Patients are also required to wear masks for the duration of the visit and use hand sanitizer open entry. Patient appointments will be staggered during the day to allow for social distancing as well as disinfecting/cleaning of the office. If you are ill, you will be asked to reschedule your appointment for another day.
What are curbside services?
Curbside services are no-touch appointment visits that do not require you to leave your car. These are typically reserved for hearing aid check/troubleshooting appointments as well as to purchase supplies and batteries. Patients are asked to call the clinic upon their arrival and a member of the staff will collect the hearing aid that needs to be worked on using appropriate PPE. The device will be repaired in house, if possible, and delivered back to the patient at curbside/their car. If a device needs to be sent to the manufacturer for repair, the patient will be called to pick up their device at a later time.
How do I know if my insurance accepts Telehealth?
Each insurance carrier and plan is different. It is suggested that you call the Member Services phone number on the back of your card to confirm benefit coverage.
What do I do if I have more questions?
Please email us at audiology@tlcdeaf.org, call our clinic at (508) 875-4559 or fill out a general inquiry form on our website.
*Our PIP Program serves deaf and hard of hearing children birth to age 3 who are enrolled in Early Intervention programs across the state of Massachusetts.
Are You Accepting Referrals?
Yes! We continue to remain open and we are accepting new referrals! We have been successful in connecting with our families through remote and virtual consultations, playgroups and appointments.
How Do I Get in Touch With Your Program?
Please fill out a General Inquiry Form on our website.
Project Bread: A list of food resources for anyone in Massachusetts seeking assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic
Find a Local Food Pantry: If you are facing immediate hunger, your local food bank can provide information on pantries and local programs where you can get access to free food
SNAP Benefits: Do you need help buying healthy food? SNAP provides a monthly benefit to buy nutritious foods. To get SNAP, you must be low-income and be a U.S. citizen or legal noncitizen (restrictions apply).
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) uses On the Desktop messages to communicate directly with superintendents and other district officials. During the COVID-19 pandemic, DESE has also been sending On the Desktop messages to private schools. Their archive can be found below:
