Vision

Families are a treasured part of a young child’s life.  
Professionals at MSD strive to support that relationship and to work as equal partners with families who have deaf and hard of hearing children.  The goal is to provide support and
information needed to  

empower parents in making informed decisions about the
educational, communication, language and social experiences for their child.

Building Partnerships…

With Families

The department is committed to facilitating early language
communication between children and their families using English and American
Sign Language.

With Children

Teachers strive to provide children with opportunities to enhance their language
acquisition and communication skills through a multitude of play-based educational
activities.

With the Community

Family educators work with families to establish their own network of resources including the deaf community and local school programs or agencies within the family’s own
community.

Programs and services:

• Center-based Classes
  • Available for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers at both campuses
    
    
    
    
• Home Visits
  • Individual visits are provided throughout the state.
    
    
• Speech Therapy Services
  • Provided at the centers on an individual basis
    
    
• Parent Group Meetings
  • Informative, supportive weekly meetings on campus
    
    
• American Sign Language Classes
  • Offered at no cost at both campuses
    
    
• Regional Parent Workshops
  • Designed to bring families and their children together in their local community
    
    
• Cochlear Implant Services
  • Tailored to facilitate auditory, speech, and language development before, during and after the implant process.
    
    
  • These services include:
    • Home visits
    • Center-based classes
    • Spoken language enrichment sessions
  • Collaboration with cochlear implant centers and therapists.
    
    
• Collaboration with Public and Private Service Providers
  
  
  • Local Infants and Toddlers programs
  • Hospitals
  • Daycare programs
  • Head Start programs
  • Public and private preschools
  • Local school systems
  • Public and private agencies

For more information
Referrals and/or direct contact can be made to the Director at any time.

Family Education Director
Phone:  410.480.4540 (v/tty)
Fax:  410.480.4541

Main Office, Columbia Campus
Phone:  410.480.4500 (v/tty)
Email:  columbia@msd.edu

Main Office, Frederick Campus
Phone:  301.360.2000 (v/tty) 
Email:  Frederick@msd.edu

Among the Nation’s Best..

MSD’s highly qualified staff include:

• Teachers with certification from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)
• Certified speech and language pathologists
• Clinical audiologists

An early learning curriculum recognized by MSDE focusing on early foundations in reading and writing is integrated throughout the program.