Indiana School for the Deaf
Encyclopedia
Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD) is a fully accredited school for the deaf and hearing impaired, located in Indianapolis
, Indiana
.
.
William Willard was a deaf teacher
who taught at Ohio School for the Deaf
in Columbus, Ohio
. He traveled to Indianapolis in May 1843 to propose the establishment of a Deaf School. Once he had the support of the General Assembly, he recruited approximately twelve students. He and his wife, Eliza, were teachers. Eventually, the school had grown and a law which was passed in January 1846, officially established the Willard School as the sixth state school for the Deaf and the first Deaf school to provide free education to Deaf and hard of hearing students. The school had actually moved a few times in different locations, when finally, the school was built on an 80 acre (32 hectare) property on East 42nd Street. The name was changed to Indiana School for the Deaf. The school's main buildings on the current campus are registered as historic landmarks. For more information on the History of ISD, please scroll down to the External Links section.
.
The Bilingual/Bicultural Philosophy provides language acquisition and facilitates proficiency in two languages, American Sign Language
(ASL), and English
. By providing an enriched academic and cultural learning environment, its Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students develop a sense of identity within the Deaf community. Students also develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to function effectively with members of a multicultural, diversified community.
, Middle School
, and High School
.
The Parent Infant Program works closely with parents and their deaf or hard of hearing children from ages 0 to 3. When a student reaches 18 months of age, he or she can enroll at ISD as an official student. Preschool handles children up until Pre-Kindergarten
. Elementary provides academics and activities for Kindergarten through 5th grade students. Middle school hosts grades 6 to 8, and High School hosts grades 9 through 12.
. It has dormitories where students reside throughout the week. Students arrive on Sundays and depart on Fridays. Dormitories are for students who live far enough not to be able to travel by bus every day to school. There are dormitories for male and female students: Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, and High School. ISD's residential programs offers extracurricular activities, peer interaction, student growth and development, achievement, and more.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
History
When the first school for the Deaf was established in Indiana, it was not called Indiana School for the Deaf. It was named Willard School, after the founder, William WillardWilliam Willard
William Willard founded Indiana's school for the deaf in Indianapolis, Indiana, which later became the Indiana School for the Deaf. He was one of the most important deaf persons in the deaf community....
.
William Willard was a deaf teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
who taught at Ohio School for the Deaf
Ohio School for the Deaf
Ohio School for the Deaf is a school located in Columbus, Ohio. It is run by the Ohio Department of Education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students across Ohio. It was established on October 16, 1829, making it the fifth oldest residential school in the country...
in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. He traveled to Indianapolis in May 1843 to propose the establishment of a Deaf School. Once he had the support of the General Assembly, he recruited approximately twelve students. He and his wife, Eliza, were teachers. Eventually, the school had grown and a law which was passed in January 1846, officially established the Willard School as the sixth state school for the Deaf and the first Deaf school to provide free education to Deaf and hard of hearing students. The school had actually moved a few times in different locations, when finally, the school was built on an 80 acre (32 hectare) property on East 42nd Street. The name was changed to Indiana School for the Deaf. The school's main buildings on the current campus are registered as historic landmarks. For more information on the History of ISD, please scroll down to the External Links section.
Philosophy
ISD is prominent for being a leader in Bilingual-bicultural educationBilingual-bicultural education
Bilingual-bicultural or BiBi education programs use sign language as the native, or first, language of deaf children. In the United States, for example, American Sign Language is the natural first language for deaf children...
.
The Bilingual/Bicultural Philosophy provides language acquisition and facilitates proficiency in two languages, American Sign Language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
(ASL), and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. By providing an enriched academic and cultural learning environment, its Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students develop a sense of identity within the Deaf community. Students also develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to function effectively with members of a multicultural, diversified community.
Academics
ISD offers several programs ranging from infants to high school. They are as follows: Parent Infant Program, Preschool, ElementaryElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
, Middle School
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
, and High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
.
The Parent Infant Program works closely with parents and their deaf or hard of hearing children from ages 0 to 3. When a student reaches 18 months of age, he or she can enroll at ISD as an official student. Preschool handles children up until Pre-Kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
. Elementary provides academics and activities for Kindergarten through 5th grade students. Middle school hosts grades 6 to 8, and High School hosts grades 9 through 12.
Residency
ISD is also a residential schoolBoarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
. It has dormitories where students reside throughout the week. Students arrive on Sundays and depart on Fridays. Dormitories are for students who live far enough not to be able to travel by bus every day to school. There are dormitories for male and female students: Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, and High School. ISD's residential programs offers extracurricular activities, peer interaction, student growth and development, achievement, and more.
Athletics
ISD offers several athletics starting from 5th grade to 12th grade. There are sports for both female and male students.- Male Sports
- Football
- Cross Country
- Wrestling
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Track and Field
- Swimming
- Female Sports
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Track and Field
- Swimming
- Softball