At a glance...
Our vision is to be the premier school which meets the needs of Ohio's Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students and their families
Our Mission
The mission of the Ohio School for the Deaf, an educational facility and resource center on deafness, is:
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to provide comprehensive education for Ohio's Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students which encourages independence and life long learning to promote social development and cultural awareness
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to prepare students to attain their potential and become contributing members of their communities
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to collaborate with schools and other educational programs serving Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students and their families to meet the individual needs of each student
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all via a barrier-free communication environment using American Sign Language (ASL) and English.
Our Beliefs
We believe that:
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Education must be relevant in order to prepare students for eh rapidly changing social, technical, and economic world in which they live and work.
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A barrier-free communication environment, which values both ASL and English on an equal basis, promotes a higher level of academic achievement
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Opportunities for peer interaction and direct communication meet social, emotional, and cultural needs of our students.
our residential program plays a unique role in the high quality K through 12 educationally designed plan for students enrolled on campus
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The educational and social experiences provided for students at OSD will assure more independent, productive, and contributing citizens
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OSD serves as an educational and social center of the Deaf community in the State of Ohio
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OSD functions as a resource center for agencies serving deaf student statewide
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The continued evaluation of our educational programs and students is necessary in order to design and implement positive educational approaches to increase student achievement
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Outreach services result in meaningful partnerships among schools, teachers, parents, and other professionals
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Early literacy development ensures stronger learning experiences
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Technology, such as interactive video distance learning and networking of computers enhances teaching and learning
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OSD is both a solution and a service provider organization
Value Statement
We value that:
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Our students are individuals
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Our staff members are dedicated
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Our parents are exceptional
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Our programs and resources are meant to be shared
Our History
The Ohio School for the Deaf (OSD) was established in 1829, making it the fifth oldest residential school in the country. Throughout our 170 year history, student achievement was tied to access to American Sign Language. The Ohio School for the Deaf Alumni Association is responsible for the nation's only elderly care facility designed for and operated by Deaf persons.
Our Program
OSD operates under the auspices and in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Education. A comprehensive kindergarten through grade 12 educational program provides a sequential curriculum for achievement in academic and career development areas which is comparable to Ohio's public schools. Support services include speech therapy, psychological testing, counseling, technology instruction, library/media services, and transition to adult life. The residential program provides a wide variety of student development activities, athletics, and recreation.
Our Bilingual/Bicultural Philosophy
OSD's Bilingual/Bicultural Philosophy embraces and supports diversity. American Sign Language and English are both rich languages which allow deaf children access to information, a means of interacting with others, and a conduit for understanding multiculturalism. Depending on the individual student's needs, either ASL or spoken English (speech, speechreading, and use of residual hearing) can be used to develop linguistic competence. Both ASL and the reading and writing of English are used throughout instruction to promote literacy in both languages.
Our Location
OSD is located in north central Columbus, our state's capital city. The school campus is at 500 Morse Road, two and a half blocks west of Interstate 71 (exit 116). The 110 acre grounds have mature trees, flower beds, and a wooded ravine area.