Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Definition:

According to Colorado Eligibility, a child with a hearing impairment, including Deafness shall have a deficiency in hearing sensitivity as demonstrated by an elevated threshold of auditory sensitivity to pure tones or speech where even with the help of amplification, the child is prevented from receiving reasonable educational benefit from general education.

The Colorado Rules for the Administration of the Exceptional Children’s Educational Act (ECEA) defines the criteria for identifying a student with a hearing disability (Deaf/Hard of Hearing). Colorado’s Deaf Child Bill of Rights (1996) requires that all students with a hearing disability have a Communication Plan that considers students’ communicative needs as they relate to social and emotional development.

Upcoming Professional Development

Click on the name of the upcoming professional development event to learn more. Events are listed in order by date.

The First 30 Days of School

The First 30 Days of School

Hosted by the D/HH Leadership Team

The beginning of the school year can feel exciting, overwhelming, energizing, and exhausting all at once. To help start the year off smoothly, the D/HH Leadership Team will be hosting two virtual training sessions focused on supporting professionals during the critical first month of school.

Session Dates

August 3rd from 3:00–5:30 PM
August 11th from 3:30–5:30 PM

During these sessions, we will discuss what a Teacher of the Deaf should strive to accomplish within the first 30 days of the school year. We will also explore the important partnerships and connections between the Teacher of the Deaf, Educational Interpreter, Educational Audiologist, Speech Language Pathologist, Administration, and General Education Teacher.

These sessions are open to all team members, and we hope they will provide you with:

New tools to add to your toolbox
Opportunities to refine the tools and practices you already use
Ideas and strategies to help launch the school year smoothly
Time to connect and network with others doing similar work

Both sessions will be held virtually. While attendance at both sessions is encouraged, it is not mandatory.

Whether you are brand new to the field or a seasoned professional, we hope you will join us as we collaborate, problem-solve, and support one another through the start of a new school year.

We look forward to learning alongside you!

Registration

What's New

Save the Dates for a professional development series you don’t want to miss!

Deeper Dive into the DHH Starfish

Mark your calendars now for this year’s upcoming Listen, Learn, Ask and Answer (LLAA) virtual professional development series designed for school professionals serving students with hearing differences as well as school administrators.

Starting in September, the DHH Leadership team will host a monthly session taking a Deeper Dive into each area of the DHH Starfish Data Gathering Tool.

A central pentagon with five categories is surrounded by five colored boxes detailing specific events, with a sixth yellow box for %22Self Advocacy & Technology%22 placed to the right.

Considerations for Eligibility & Intervention

During this series we will cover the key domains used to gather information about a Deaf or Hard of Hearing student when considering eligibilty and intervention.

Listed below are the domains and the dates and times that each domain will be covered.

More information and registration details coming soon—check back here and watch your inbox so you and your team secure your spot!

Functional Auditory Performance

September 17, from 3:30pm - 5:30 PM

Registration for Deeper Dive into the DHH Starfish Series: Functional Auditory Performance (1 of 6)

This session will take a deeper dive into the assessments and observational data that can help teams better understand a student’s functional auditory access and use that information to make informed decisions about services, supports, and instruction. We will explore how data can inform meaningful goal development and discuss strategies for collaborative teaming to ensure students have the skills, access, and support needed to make progress toward their individual goals.

Language Development

October 8, from 3:30pm - 5:30 PM

Communication Competencies

November 5, from 3:30pm - 5:30 PM

Academic Performance

January 7, 3:30pm - 5:30 PM

Social Emotional Development

February 4, 3:00-5:00 PM

Self-Advocacy and Technology Proficiency

March 4, from 3:30pm - 5:30 PM

Goberis DHH Track and Field Day

Wednesday, September 23^rd; 9am-1pm

APS Stadium, 1250 Chambers Rd, Aurora, CO 80011

This year announcing Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teen Mentors and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher of the Year. We are also looking for more volunteers.

For more information and to Register for the 2026 Goberis DHH Track and Field Day

EIPA Performance Assessment – Upcoming Testing Dates

Educational interpreters seeking to complete the EIPA Performance Assessment have several upcoming testing opportunities available in Colorado.

Available Test Dates

Monday, September 21, 2026

Testing Location

1061 Akron Way
Denver, CO

Registration

Participants must register directly through the EIPA website: Assessments | Classroom Interpreting | Boys Town EIPA

Colorado Support

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) will cover the proctor fee (not the test fee) for Colorado interpreters currently working in K–12 schools within the state.

Communication Plan Funding Opportunity

Communication Plan Funding Application Form

Back by popular demand! CDE will be providing LIMITED funding for schools/districts to support teams in meeting the requirements for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students under the Colorado Communication Plan. Providing quality language development and opportunities for students to have access to peers and role models is key for all students. This funding is designed to help teams bring innovative ideas to life, creating more opportunities and stronger outcomes for their students.

Serving Students who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing: A Professional Development Course for SLPs and other Service Providers

Students with hearing loss in Colorado, although low in incidence, have educationally significant and often quite specific needs in speech, language and academic development. Service providers, especially Speech and Language Pathologists, may at one time or another provide services to students with hearing loss. This course provides knowledge, information and resources to assist in better understanding, assessing, analyzing data and serving students who have hearing loss.

This course contains 5 modules which focus on the impact of hearing loss, aspects of a potential language gap, role of the SLP and essential nature of collaboration with service providers on the Deaf/HH education team as well as other essential components. Formal and informal assessment, using language samples, and knowing where to find resources and materials can be critical in providing specialized instruction and monitoring student progress. Whether part of a large district program, a small rural school or anywhere in between, this course has been developed to support YOU in the services you provide to students with hearing loss.

Access the online course

Newly Released

Educational Interpreter Mentor Application

Have you completed your educational requirements, passed the written EIPA, taken the screener performance assessment, and are now waiting for your EIPA scores? Are you eager to apply for your Colorado Authorization and start making a difference in classrooms?

Here’s your opportunity!

If you're ready to commit to a minimum 6-month mentorship, you may be eligible to move forward with your authorization application — with support every step of the way!

What’s Included in the Mentorship?

Each selected interpreter will be matched with two incredible mentors:

A Deaf Adult Mentor to guide you in cultural and linguistic fluency
A Skilled Educational Interpreter to support your professional growth and classroom readiness

This dynamic duo will help you build confidence, refine your skills, and prepare you for success in educational settings.

Use the CDE Educational Interpreting Mentorship - Mentee Application to apply

Confused by ASL Workshops and Reauthorization? Let's Clear It Up!

Have you ever taken an ASL workshop only to find out later that it didn’t count toward your Colorado reauthorization? Not sure what qualifies as skills hours and what doesn’t? Thinking about requesting funding for an upcoming workshop?

CDE has your back!
We’ve created a simple form to help you:

Get pre-approval for ASL workshops
Request funding support for eligible training opportunities

Important: Funding is limited this year, so don’t wait — submit your request as soon as possible!

Access the form and take the guesswork out of your professional development!

The Colorado Starfish Assessment Tool

The Colorado Starfish Assessment tool is designed to assist teams in addressing the common needs of students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. It outlines key questions for IEP teams to consider across multiple areas, including Functional Auditory Performance, Language and Communication, Academic Performance, Social-Emotional Needs, Self-Advocacy, and Technology Use. By guiding discussion in these domains, the tool supports informed decisions regarding service needs and the determination of the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).

LRE for Deaf of Hard of Hearing Students Federal Guidance and Best Practices

New Resource Available: Guidelines for the Educational Evaluation & Intervention of Auditory Processing Deficits (APD)

We’re excited to announce the release of the Guidelines for the Educational Evaluation & Intervention of Auditory Processing Deficits (APD). This comprehensive resource is designed to support educators, specialists, and evaluation teams in identifying and addressing the unique needs of students with APD. Grounded in current research and best practices, the guidelines offer clear procedures for conducting educationally relevant assessments, developing effective intervention plans, and promoting collaboration among school-based teams. These guidelines aim to ensure that students with auditory processing challenges receive the targeted support they need to succeed in the classroom.

Guidelines for the Educational Evaluation & Intervention of Auditory Processing Deficits (APD)

Additional Information

D/HH Job Board

View the latest listing of Deaf Hard of Hearing jobs across the state.

Statewide Deaf/HH Events Calendar

View Deaf/HH Events Calendar

Want to Add to the Events Calendar or Bulletin Board?

Complete Post an
Event Google Form

To post an event, on the Statewide Deaf/HH Events Calendar or Bulletin Board, please complete the Post an Event Google Form. Pease have ready the following information: event title; date; time; location; event description; sponsoring organization and contact information.

Professionals

[Employment/Professional Info Link]

Listservs for CO Providers
Statewide Collaboration Information
Mentor Program for School Professionals
Employment
Teachers of the Deaf
Educational Audiologists
Educational Interpreters

Families

[Parent/Family Resource Link]

Organizations
Resources
- Accessibility During COVID
- Understanding Hearing Loss
- Birth - 3 Years Old
- Transition Services

Forms and Documents

[Services/Support Programs Link]

D/HH Related Documents
Archived Deaf/Hard of Hearing Newsletters

Questions?

For more information about services for students who are hearing impaired, please contact:

Shauna Moden, Deaf Education Specialist
Phone: 720-413-0179
Email: moden_s@cde.state.co.us

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

What's New

Save the Dates for a professional development series you don’t want to miss!

Deeper Dive into the DHH Starfish

EIPA Performance Assessment – Upcoming Testing Dates

Available Test Dates

Testing Location

Registration

Colorado Support

Serving Students who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing: A Professional Development Course for SLPs and other Service Providers

Professionals

Families

Forms and Documents

Questions?

ESSU Newsletter