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New York State School for the Deaf

New York State School for the Deaf

Pupil Personnel Services

Department Head: Pupil Personnel Services, Kathryn Baillie

American Sign Language (ASL) Translator/Interpreter

Translator/Interpreter – Christy Boehlert

  • The translator is responsible for providing interpreting services for staff and students who are deaf or hard of hearing at NYSSD.  This includes interpreting from spoken English into American Sign Language (ASL), and from ASL into spoken English.  The translator adjusts the communication to an appropriate learning level for each student.

Audiology

Audiologist – Erin Lopata

The NYSSD educational audiologist is responsible for overseeing the care and maintenance of each students’ hearing health. This includes hearing examinations, as well as daily equipment checks for students with hearing aid(s) and/or cochlear implant(s). The audiologist works in conjunction with classroom teachers to develop appropriate classroom acoustics and ensure the appropriate functioning of all classroom soundfield systems. 

Counseling

School Counselors – Katrina Bratge & Chris Kimball

School Psychologist – Ashlee Feldman-Alguire

  • The school counselors and a school psychologist work together to provide guidance in areas of career and social/emotional development, academic achievement, and behavioral support services.  School-wide supports include ongoing social emotional instruction, Positive Behavior Intervention Services (PBIS), and support for students during a temporary crisis.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapist – Rochelle Delia

  • The occupational therapist works in collaboration with teaching teams to promote students' growth in fine motor skills, activities of daily living skills, and sensory regulation.  Special attention is given to the fine motor needs of students to form appropriate hand shapes for American Sign Language (ASL).

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapist – Amanda Sapp

  • The physical therapist works in collaboration with teaching teams to promote students' growth in gross motor skills in order to access the educational environment safely and independently.

Speech-Language Therapy

Speech-Language Therapy – Katherine Recio & Rachel Wojnas

  • The speech-language therapists collaborate with teaching teams to best meet students' communication needs. Diagnostic and intervention services for students with speech and language needs are provided to support students' access and success with curriculum.

Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility services are available for students with significant vision loss as determined necessary.