PUBLIC SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS addresses the specific needs of students with hearing aids and cochlear implants in educational settings, providing a support system for monitoring deaf and hard of hearing students’ academic and developmental progress.
Inside Public School Partnerships
For Teachers, Students and Families
- Educational audiology services, including classroom acoustics assessment and FM/HAT system recommendations, implementation, and training
- Direct instruction services from teachers of the Deaf and hard of hearing
- Consultation with speech-language pathologists regarding speech, language and auditory needs of children with hearing aids and cochlear implants
- Consultation support for sign language interpreters working in public schools
- Assistance with student transition issues (for example: work, or extra-curricular activities)
- Comprehensive resource information related to student assessment and college transitions
For School Districts
Our staff can assist districts in complying with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (504 plans) for deaf and hard of hearing students in schools.
Inservices and Workshops
- Curriculum adaptations in the classroom
- Educational audiology and the impact of hearing loss on listening and participating in the classroom
- Cochlear implant, FM/HAT, and hearing aid technology and maintenance
- Communication choices and language learning for Deaf and hard of hearing students
- Comprehensive American Sign Language courses
Assessments
- Observation, consultation, and training for classroom teachers and support personnel
- Periodic review of all curriculum adaptations
For Teachers, Students and Families
- Educational audiology services, including classroom acoustics assessment and FM/HAT system recommendations, implementation, and training
- Direct instruction services from teachers of the Deaf and hard of hearing
- Consultation with speech-language pathologists regarding speech, language and auditory needs of children with hearing aids and cochlear implants
- Consultation support for sign language interpreters working in public schools
- Assistance with student transition issues (for example: work, or extra-curricular activities)
- Comprehensive resource information related to student assessment and college transitions
For School Districts
Our staff can assist districts in complying with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (504 plans) for deaf and hard of hearing students in schools.
Inservices and Workshops
- Curriculum adaptations in the classroom
- Educational audiology and the impact of hearing loss on listening and participating in the classroom
- Cochlear implant, FM/HAT, and hearing aid technology and maintenance
- Communication choices and language learning for Deaf and hard of hearing students
- Comprehensive American Sign Language courses
Assessments
- Observation, consultation, and training for classroom teachers and support personnel
- Periodic review of all curriculum adaptations
Of the many challenges we've faced in this unique school year, some of them require expertise beyond our staff's capacity. We have two deaf students who have been remote due to COVID. Before welcoming these students back, we needed to know that we are doing everything we can to accommodate their needs. Gayle has worked with those children for years. I invited Gayle to visit, assess, and advise how to best set up classrooms to be ready for their in-person return. We now know what we need to do, and we could not have known this without her help. We are grateful.
As a parent of a Bilingual Hard of Hearing student with additional special needs, I was extremely pleased with the support of the Public School Partnership program. If not for the PSP program, my son would not have gotten the support that ultimately helped him pass MCAS and achieve a High School Diploma. My son got what he needed in terms of hearing loss support and my town was able to successfully graduate one of their multi special needs students, which never would have happened without the Public School Partnership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Staff
Briana has authored many well received publications, including journal articles and book chapters, related to identification, evaluation, and monitoring of pediatric hearing loss. She has also presented research regarding pediatric hearing topics regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Prior to her role, Briana spent nine years as an Educational Audiologist at TLC, until 2009. She was a multi-site manager at Boston Children's Hospital 2007-2022.
Lydia Colón, Au.D.
Dr. Colón received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, with a certificate in Latin American Studies, and was awarded her Master of Science and Doctor of Audiology degree from Gallaudet University. Dr. Colón had previously completed her last year of doctoral practicum at the world renowned Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona and was most recently the Clinical Program Manager of the Cochlear Implant Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston before transitioning to her current director role. Her passion is hearing healthcare as well as rehabilitative measures, including hearing aids and cochlear implants. She is a strong advocate of equality and ease of access of healthcare services for marginalized and immigrant populations, most recently spearheading the credentialing of the TLC Audiology Clinic for MassHealth services. Dr. Colón has her certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and is fluent in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language.
As a Director of Special Education, my experience with Deaf/Hard of Hearing students was non-existent until a kindergarten child with hearing loss was on the roster, and the teacher wanted to make his learning experience as accessible as all the other students. The teacher's questions were many, and my answers were few. Fortunately, working with trained staff from TLC taught me that every child with hearing loss needs an educational audiologist who is part of the school team, and who can both educate the staff on an ongoing basis and provide services to children.