Deaf Education is a broad and diverse professional field that centers on the education of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Teachers often concentrate their studies in early childhood education, elementary education, or a secondary content area. Teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing become experts in language acquisition and the unique learning and communication needs of their students.
New Mexico School for the Deaf
Sometimes individuals who major in deaf education serve in capacities other than teaching for there are other fields and areas of expertise that intersect with deaf education. For example, some university graduates who majored in deaf education have become transition specialists who work with students who are transitioning from school to work. Others function as educational interpreters or work with families of newly diagnosed deaf or hard of hearing infants, providing support to the family during the early months as they confront and learn the challenges of raising a deaf or hard of hearing child.
There are many other areas in which deaf educators expand their careers through advanced study and additional degrees in special education, early intervention, speech language pathology, career technology, audiology, school counseling, social work, educational administration, etc.
Deaf education provides a great foundation and career options for individuals who are interested in working with this unique population of students.