The North Dakota School for the Deaf was established in 1890 by the North Dakota Constitution and located in Devils Lake is under the direction, control, and management of the Department of Public Instruction.
- The school is an educational institution for the education of children with severe to profound hearing loss.
- To be eligible for enrollment children must be between the ages of 0 and 21 and must be residents of North Dakota.
- Out-of-state students are accepted on a tuition basis.
- To be eligible for adult services, NDSD may collaborate with public and private entities for the provision of services to adult individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The North Dakota School for the Deaf is a school using specialized methods of instruction for hearing impaired youth. The school provides a comprehensive academic program covering a broad range which include the following:
- Traditional academic offerings
- Vocational education
- Special studies
- Physical education
- Art
Further educational opportunities are presented through residential, athletic, and recreation programs. A major emphasis throughout all programs is development of language, receptive and expressive skills.
In order to educate hearing impaired students in accordance with Individualized Education Plans, they may participate in mainstream programs with their hearing peers for part of the day in the Devils Lake Public Schools including academic and vocational classes.
Hearing students from the Devils Lake Public Schools may attend selected classes at NDSD in a reverse mainstream program. NDSD offers sign language instruction to Devils Lake High School students. Students from NDSD may participate in community activities and in co-op athletic programs with the public schools.
The school supports a parent/infant program for the hearing impaired children from birth to three years. Through this program children and their families throughout North Dakota receive specialized instruction in their homes.
As an outreach/resource center, NDSD provides assessment, evaluation, and consultation services to local education agencies. NDSD provides information, assistance, and referrals to many other state agencies, the medical/health professions, law enforcement, independent service providers, parent and families, and a variety of other interested individuals and/or groups.
Through summer programming, hearing impaired students from local school districts throughout the State of North Dakota are given the opportunity to develop self-esteem, self-help, and socialization skills during summer camps at NDSD. Family Learning Vacations are provided to families throughout North Dakota.
Through residential and day programming, the North Dakota School for the Deaf will provide optimum educational, social/emotional, and cultural experiences for deaf and hard of hearing children ages 0-21 and will serve as a resource center for outreach services for all North Dakota citizens. As per recent legislation (ND Century Code 25-07-12), the school for the deaf may collaborate (not compete) with public and private entities for the provision of services to individuals who are deaf or hearing-impaired.
Source: http://www.nd.gov/ndsd/about/