Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Director - Dr. Ray Stevens
802-258-9537 (V/TTY)
Email: rstevens@vcdhh.org

The William Center was started in 2004 by The Austine School-Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VCDHH) to meet the special needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and youth whose emotional/behavioral disorders prevent them from being served in more traditional special education programs. The William Center is approved and licensed by the Department of Education and the Department for Children and Families of the State of Vermont, and approved by Departments of Education of New York and Massachusetts. Located on the beautiful 174-acre campus of the Austine School for the Deaf in Brattleboro, VT, the William Center at Austine meets the needs of a very low incidence group of youngsters, in need of specialized programming and related services.

This educational residential program serves emotionally and behaviorally disordered Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and adolescents who need more intense psychological and educational programming than most other programs are unable to provide. The program has special classrooms, a separate residence hall and specially trained staff.

The William Center at Austine is a year around program, open seven days a week for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students whose emotional/behavioral disorders require such full time attention. William Center offers day, 5-day and 7-day placement options. Students are accepted only after a comprehensive evaluation by clinical staff either at William Center at Austine or at facilities chosen by the Local Education Agency (LEA).

William Center programs and services are designed to serve all areas of a student’s life:

Educational

• Academic- Small classes with individualized work as needed
• Pre-Vocational training, assessment, job training, work experience and job placement services.
• Counseling- Full-time counselors using a variety of counseling and therapeutic approaches
• Support Services- Access to Austine School’s comprehensive services in the areas of speech and audiology, psychological testing and evaluation, medical and health-related services, interpreter services for deaf or Spanish-speaking parents.

Summer School

• The William Center operates a 40-day summer program. Ten of the days are during the Austine Green Mountain Lions Camp. The other 30 days include morning instruction in academic subjects and afternoon participation in recreation and leisure activities. Students 16 years and older will work for pay during the afternoons. Support services in audiology, counseling and psychiatric medical review and care continue through the summer. The Behavior Management Program and Level System remain in effect throughout the summer program.

Residential

• Monday through Friday during the academic year, emphasizing development of independent living skills, problem solving skills, appropriate use of leisure time, and socially appropriate behaviors
• Extracurricular- A wide variety of social and recreational after-school activities, including sports, student work programs and supervised community field trips. Access to Austine School activities will be encouraged and dependent upon student behavior performance.

Weekend Program

• Students who are in the 7-day program participate in as many community activities as appropriate and possible. Local deaf community events, community sports events, outdoor activities (skiing, hiking), trips to the mall, community festivals and typical teenage activities are available to students who are in the 7-day program. The Level System is in effect during the weekend. Students 16 years and older can work for pay during the weekend. Transportation to and from home is provided by the William Center Program.

Behavior Management Services

• Individual, structured behavior management programs, developed to meet each student’s needs
• Family Service- Parents group, home visit or telephone conference by counseling and administrative staff, parent training and counseling
• Transitional Services- Support for students returning to regular academic and pre- vocational programming
• Consultants- In psychiatry, neurology, occupational and physical therapy, and behavior management.

Family Education Program

In order to help the child develop and maintain positive relationships with family members, a family education program is an integral component of the program. Staff members can accompany 7-day students on home visits if student is unable to visit home without supervision. ASL, counseling, and family meetings are arranged as needed. Access of home community resources will be encouraged.

Admission Considerations

Students served by the William Center at Austine have histories of repeated maladaptive behavior in school, home, and the community. These behaviors of concern may include:

• Oppositional Defiant Behavior
• Conduct Disorder
• Resistance to authority
• Isolation
• Failure to respond to ordinary social stimuli
• Outbursts of verbal and/or physical aggression
• The absence of rudimentary verbal control

William Center at Austine Admission Procedure

Referrals to William Center at Austine are most often made by the prospective student’s Local Education Agency (LEA), although referrals may also be initiated by a student’s parent or guardian or by a social service agency. If a referral is not initiated by the LEA, it is strongly recommended that the LEA be included in the referral and evaluation process before a formal admissions evaluation is scheduled.

Following a comprehensive pre-admission evaluation and a decision by the LEA Planning and Placement Team to place the student in the program, students enter for a trial, diagnostic placement. Following this stage, William Center staff members work with the LEA and family to develop and implement an appropriate Individualized Education Plan including a treatment plan. Admission of appropriate students may at times be delayed so the additional staff can be recruited and trained. Each student’s performance is monitored closely and regular reports are issued to referral agencies, parents and LEAs. Formal progress reports and report cards are issued on the Austine School schedule.

Program Fees

Tuition is charged to school districts or other agencies placing students in the program. Fee schedules may be obtained from the program director.
For more information contact:

Dr. Ray Stevens
William Center Director
rstevens@vcdhh.org
802-258-9537 (v/tty)

Cyndy Ward
Admissions Director, Austine School
cward@vcdhh.org
802-258-9522 (v/tty)