Beverly School for the Deaf

The Beverly School for the Deaf (BSD) program provides a full academic curriculum and bilingual education for students ages 3 up to 22, who are Deaf and hard of hearing, with or without assistive listening devices or additional diagnoses. Hearing students who utilize ASL as a primary mode of communication are also considered for enrollment. Students may have developmental delays and/or medical needs. General principles of ABA are utilized in classrooms, as needed, and many students are multimodal communicators, using AAC devices to repair breakdowns in spoken or signed communication. BSD uses language that is visually accessible and incorporates best practices and current research in Deaf education. Communication is a priority and language skills are systematically targeted throughout each day, building a foundation for literacy development. We equally value the use of ASL and English. For students with auditory access, programming may include services to support listening and spoken English; all BSD students are exposed to English print. Further, BSD classes emphasize the development of receptive and expressive ASL. Students in the BSD program study the history, culture, and language of the Deaf community. Beginning at age 14, a comprehensive Transition Plan is developed and implemented, taking into account instruction, employment, community experiences, and adult living. Students and families are supported through the process, helping students become as independent as individually possible.

Stories & Testimonials

Betsy Collamore

Our son has been attending CCCBSD as a pre-k student since September but has been a member of the school community since he was six months old! As first time parents we were overwhelmed with the supports and interventions we knew we were going to need for Joey from an early age; but BSD has been a spectacular resource for us that has connected us to so many other invaluable professionals all around the North Shore. Since starting in Ms. Shari’s class it has been amazing how much we’ve been able to consolidate much of his care. Shari, Jen, and Kate have been so communicative, so supportive, and so innovative when it comes to teaching Joey and helping us carry over learning at home. Outside of the classroom all of Joey’s therapist have been so open to sharing his progress with us through e-mail, pictures, and videos. It was scary having our first born start school but everyone has made it such a smooth transition and Joey has made so much progress, especially in his ability to communicate. The exceptional team at BSD has been so attentive to us, has helped us become more confident parents, and has provided us with the tools to better communicate with Joey and support his development. For all these reasons we are forever grateful to BSD!

Jen Amador

I can remember when we first started looking for schools Ethan was only 2 1/2 years old. He was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and bilateral profound hearing loss. I had no idea what this meant for his future but I knew that It wouldn’t be easy and that I would have to be his voice in a hard to navigate system. I wanted so much to get him the education he deserved and the tools he needed to succeed. When I did my research, I looked at so many schools, and I finally found CCC/BSD. Just reading about it, I knew it was where Ethan needed to be. I called, emailed, and visited the school so many times leading up to Ethan getting enrolled. I was on a first name basis with Jocelyn Clark, the education director, (who I couldn’t help but hug her every time I saw her) , she was the first person I met when I went to visit the school. She showed me every room, every teacher and every inch of the school. I fell in love and I knew in my heart this is where he needed to be. After years of fighting with our district we finally got the news he was in!!

Coming to CCC/BSD was not just a school, it was and still is Ethan’s second home. The teachers, the therapists, and the administrators got it, they got him. They wanted my son to succeed just as much as I did. The program at BSD was tailored to Ethan, every part of him! There are so many moving parts to his abilities but the teachers and therapists don’t stop until it works, and they don’t give up. The communication between teachers and therapists, the brainstorming, the collaboration with outside Doctors and therapists the list goes on and on. The community at CCC/BSD has welcomed us with open arms since way before Ethan was a student there, and we are forever grateful to everyone who has played a part in his success for the last 5 years. We look forward to many more, and can’t wait to see what the future brings!