At OSD, students are engaged in the classroom and taught by Highly Qualified Teachers of the Deaf. Teachers are only one part of a students' complete education. There are other unsung heroes that provide additional support to help students continue to grow as a student. OSD's transition team and related service providers support students through their educational journey.

Transition Planning

Transition planning is defined as a coordinated set of activities for a student, designed with an outcome-oriented process, that promotes movement from school to post-school activities, including postsecondary education, career and technical training, integrated employment (including supportive employment), continuing adult education, adult services, independent living, and/or community participation. The coordinated set of activities must be based on the student's needs, and include instruction, community experience, development of employment and other post-school objectives.

Transition services at OSD are offered to help students and families establish a vision for the future. Starting when the student becomes 14 years of age, an Individual Transition Plan (ITP) is developed during the IEP meeting and focuses on planning for life after high school in the areas of education, independent living and employment. Some students need a great deal of assistance in these areas, others may go through the plans independently. OSD has a full time Transition Coordinator who coordinates implementation of the ITP plans. OSD offers an array of after school transition classes that parents and the student may elect to take, based on discussion during the IEP meeting.

Related Service Providers

The Ohio School for the Deaf provides most services found on IEPs for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. All teachers at OSD are certified teachers of the deaf, providing direct instruction in the classroom to students. When not in the classroom students IEP services are being met by our related service providers such as Speech & Language Pathologist, Educational Audiologist, Occupational Therapist, and Physical Therapist. For those students that are in need of blind & low vision services OSD collaborates with the Ohio State School for the Blind for support in Orientation & Mobility and other identified VI services.