Early Intervention

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Early Intervention Services

Our Early Intervention program provides services for families with infants who have been diagnosed with a hearing loss from birth through age three.


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Early Intervention Services

The WRSD Early Intervention program serves deaf and hard of hearing children from birth to age 3 and their families who reside in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester Counties. We create an individual communication approach for each child, incorporating current research, evaluations of the child's abilities and parent input. The Early Intervention team provides both home​- and center-based services to families, developing and implementing plans that consist of, but are not limited to, the following concepts: 


  • Objective information is distributed and explained regarding hearing loss, audiological needs, auditory management, and communication methodologies​
  • Home visits are an integral part of early intervention services. Each family is assigned a "home teacher" who is an experienced Teacher of the Deaf, or Speech-Language Pathologist 
  • American Sign Language programs for parents are available on a family-by-family basis through home visits and in classes held at the Longmeadow campus 
  • Assistance is provided to parents and caregivers in the development of their child's communication skills using ASL, spoken English, or spoken English and ASL 
    Coordination of appropriate access to other intervention services, primary care physicians, otologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors) and other appropriate agencies 
  • When the child turns 3, the Early Intervention team supports families through the transition to preschool 
  • The team provides auditory (hearing) habilitation: speech and language therapy, learning to listen, finding ways for your child to communicate, and training on how to take care of hearing aids and cochlear implants 
  • Speech and language assessments 
  • Monthly playgroups are offered at WRSD's Longmeadow campus, for families to meet, socialize, and practice their American Sign Language 




For more information, please contact

Laurie Brown, EdS 

Director of Outreach Services 

Early Intervention Coordinator 

Email: ​lbrown@wrsdeaf.org 

Phone: 413-567-0374 

VP: 413-306-3970 

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