Utah #1 in high school completion for deaf, hard of hearing students

The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB) recently made an exciting announcement: it ranks first among the country for high school completion for deaf and hard of hearing students.

Deaf and hard of hearing students in Utah even graduate high school at higher rates than hearing students, said Associated Superintendent of the Utah School for the Deaf Michelle Tanner.

“This is remarkable and such an honor for our teachers, aides, programs and campuses. More than that, it is, symbolically, a giant trophy for our students who are deaf and hard of hearing. They have amazing abilities, they can do anything a hearing person can, they just need access, whether that is through American Sign Language or a Listening and Spoken Language approach,” Tanner said. “We give our students access to all the modalities of communication. Technology and self advocacy are also valuable tools for USDB students. We teach these children to advocate for what they need to succeed in school and in life.”

You can read the full story here.