About Us
Walden School is a nationally-recognized residential therapeutic and education program for deaf children and youth ages 7 to 22.
Walden School students have often experienced significant adverse childhood events, as well as language deprivation, resulting in mental health challenges, and have treatment needs that have not been successfully addressed in other academic and residential settings.
Working with a staff that is proficient in American Sign Language (over 75% of whom are Deaf), Walden students receive highly individualized, trauma-informed care and therapy in a structured, supportive, home-like setting. Students attend classes during the day in contained classes with curriculum modified to each individual need, and have the opportunity to participate in a range of activities on campus.
Our Comprehensive Approach
Residential Program: Walden School students live, learn and play in a beautiful, modern campus setting. Our 13,000-square-foot facility is outfitted with recreation, dining, counseling and classroom areas. Students have access to The Learning Center’s two swimming pools, a playground and a full-sized gymnasium.
Academics: Every Walden School student’s program is individually designed to build self-esteem and self-reliance through a combination of academics, recreation, leisure skills, a work-readiness program and a Career Technology Education Program. Students are educated in a bilingual, bicultural approach that provides comprehension and development to think critically and creatively through the two languages of American Sign Language (ASL) and English. In addition to supporting our children inside the classroom, we offer basic ASL classes for students' primary caregivers at no charge, to support language development and social emotional wellbeing in the home. Our classroom ratios is 6:1:2 (Intensive 3:1).
Clinical Care: Highly individualized trauma-informed care is the hallmark of Walden School. Each of our students has unique therapeutic and behavioral counseling needs, and each has their own individual treatment plan. We always include the student in the development of their individualized plan along with a multidisciplinary team of experts, including the parent or guardian, the Clinical Director, Masters-level therapists, a clinical psychologist and a child psychiatrist and the student’s following teacher.
Nursing: TLC has two Nursing Offices located on campus designed to provide accessible care for pre-school, elementary, middle and high school students. Each office is staffed with Registered Nurses who work together under the leadership of the Health Services Director and in consultation with a pediatric physician and psychiatrist. Our Nurses take a positive, proactive approach in triaging health conditions. Services include general assessments, medication management, coordination of critical care, preventive screenings and care for chronic conditions including asthma, diabetes and allergies.
Residential Programs Change Students Lives
These stories provide a deepened understanding of the benefit a Residential Program can offer a Deaf child, including language access, independence, life skills, and more.
Help Your Child Thrive
Being surrounded by Deaf peers and mentors is truly transformative. At TLC, students gain confidence, form lasting social connections, and embracing their Deaf identity.
‘Let him play’ - Spotlight on: Kade West
TLC's mission is to ensure all deaf and hard of hearing individuals have the knowledge, power and opportunity to design the future of their choice. We thank the Los Angeles Times for creating space Kade's story. This article, and so many others, reinforce the "why" behind our work every day.
photo credit: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times
Walden’s consistent adherence to professional standards, efficacious teaching methods, and respect for the individual child and family should be a model for the nation. We all know that what makes a great school is the “it” factor of the teacher, residence staff, and the school leadership.
Walden School Leadership
Toni Ammirati, M.Ed
Toni received her master’s degree in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University and has more than 35 years of experience working in the fields of nonprofit organizations, literacy, classroom management, education reform and lesson planning. She was an Elementary Principal for 25 years prior to moving into a senior leadership role in curriculum and instruction. Toni is also responsible for supporting TLC’s educational leaders and academic programs. She is also responsible for TLC’s Educational Compliance through DESE and is a MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Lynn Power, RN
Lynn Power was born, raised and worked in Framingham, Massachusetts for over 46 years, resulting in strong ties to the community. She sat on the Board of Directors for the Framingham Council on Aging and worked with local and state agencies in her capacity as Director of Health Services.
Lynn is also connected to the National Association of School Nurses for the Deaf, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, the Nurse Leaders for the Framingham School District and other stakeholders.
Her career includes a range of responsibilities in geriatric and pediatric patient health care, clinical and communication skills, patient and family relations; planning and organization, human resources, food services, finance, contracts, and grant management.
Lynn also worked to broaden her knowledge managing the Quality Assurance Process Improvement (QAPI), and the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, while maintaining workplace safety in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.
While working more than 40 years in Countryside Nursing Home, Lynn also worked simultaneously at The Learning Center for the Deaf, where in 2019 she was appointed the Director of Health Services.
Lynn's passion is boating and even shows her leadership in that capacity by sitting on the Board of the Orient Heights Yacht Club. However, her true passion is working at The Learning Center for the Deaf. If you ask her about her 19 years working at The Learning Center for the Deaf, Lynn will always say, "I truly love the kids!"
Gregory Farber, Ph.D.
Greg received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Gallaudet University, where he was also most recently an adjunct professor. He received his Bachelor’s in Psychology from Rochester Institute of Technology. He has conducted numerous psychological and neuropsychological assessments and evaluations and has provided comprehensive psychotherapeutic services to the Deaf community.
Greg brings extensive experience in expertly blending adolescents' academic and therapeutic needs, having participated in multidisciplinary discussions to ensure that a recommended course of treatment is highly individualized for each student.
His work with Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth includes a predoctoral externship at a family clinic in Washington, DC, and a postdoctoral residency at Aligned Clinical & Educational Services in Virginia.
Additionally, Greg has experience in hospital and academic settings, completing psychotherapeutic services, crisis intervention, and behavioral evaluations. He has worked at John Hopkins University School of Medicine and Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital and is a former residential care professional at TLC.
Linda Sutton has devoted over 20 years to her work within the Walden School, serving currently as the Director of Staff Development and Training. With more than 30 years of experience working with both deaf and hearing populations in residential treatment and psycho-social rehabilitation settings, Linda found her passion for this work immediately following her completion of her bachelor’s degree in social work, as she began raising her young family. She joined The Learning Center for the Deaf’s Walden School in 1998 as the Residential Director, and served in that capacity until 2007 when she became Walden School's Director of Staff Development and Training. Linda has become a valuable senior leader during her time at Walden School. She is a Certified Lead Instructor for both Professional Assault Crisis (Pro-ACT) and Residential Child and Youth Care Professional (RCYCP), and was a recipient of the Christopher Huggins Staff Appreciation Award 2016.
Outside of Walden School, Linda enjoys walking laps at the local park, spending summers reading on the beach, and as much family time as she can get. Linda and her husband, Frank, share two wonderful daughters, whose names escape her at this time, but their fondest moments are spent with their three cats, Grady, Charlie, and Ronnie.
David Del Pizzo
David is from Philadelphia, PA, and graduated from Northeastern University. He received his Master’s degree in Sports Management from Springfield College.
He most recently worked at the American School for the Deaf (ASD) in Hartford, Conn., as Director of Student Life. Prior to working at ASD, David spent 10 years at TLC, starting as a dorm supervisor, and rising all the way to Director of After School and Athletic Programs.
In his spare time, David enjoys coaching his daughters' soccer and basketball teams, and traveling.