Atlanta Area School for the Deaf

Atlanta Area School for the Deaf (AASD) is a state-operated K-12 public school in Clarkston, Georgia. It provides full-day instructional services to infants, children, and youth who are deaf, including persons with multiple disabilities. The classroom programs range from preschool through twelfth grade. Students experience a range of academic, vocational, and social opportunities.[2]

Atlanta Area School for the Deaf
Atlanta Area School for the Deaf front gates
Address
Map
890 N Indian Creek Dr

,
Information
TypePublic
Established1972
SuperintendentJason Jack Johnson
GradesPre-K-12
Number of students154[1]
Color(s)Blue and Yellow
   
MascotPanthers
Websiteaasdweb.com

It is not a part of any school district.[3]

History

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AASD was established in the 1970s.[4] In 1979, Georgia State University professor of special education Dr. Glenn Vergason stated that because of the trend of "mainstreaming" deaf children into regular classes, which would mean less reliance on state-operated schools for the deaf, "I've had the feeling that the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf was built at the wrong time".[5]

In 1990 there was a study headed by two employees of Gallaudet University that concluded that the Georgia Department of Education should do more to ensure more children were placed at Atlanta Area School for the Deaf and at the two other state schools for disabled children, Georgia School for the Deaf and Georgia Academy for the Blind, as all three were under-utilized.[4]

Admissions

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As of 1980, in order for a student to attend, their home school district had to refer them to AASD.[6]

Student body

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In 1979 the school served students from infancy to age 16, and had 250 students.[5] In 1980 about 60 of the students lived in DeKalb County.[6]

In 1990 the age range was 2 to 21 and there were 176 students, with about 50% disabled in some other way. The Atlanta Constitution stated "Hearing impaired preschoolers are particularly likely to attend the Area School, rather than a local one."[4]

The school had 154 students from pre-K through 12th grade in the 2021-22 school year.[1]

Culture

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An article from The Atlanta Constitution stated that parents felt protective of the school it provides "a world that is comprehensible though removed from the "normal" setting."[5]

Curriculum

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In 1979 the school had a total communication curriculum.[5]

As of 1979, for students under age three, AASD had a program where parents have the education done in their residences.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Atlanta Area School for the Deaf - CCD Public school data 2021-2022". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  2. ^ http://www.aasdweb.com/pages/Atlanta_School_for_the_Deaf/About/Our_History[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)." Atlanta Area School for the Deaf. Retrieved on June 1, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c White, Betsy (1990-06-28). "State schools under-used?". The Atlanta Constitution. p. E3. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e "A Place Where Being Deaf Is A Normal Thing". The Atlanta Constitution. 1979-01-04. pp. 1B, 8B. - clipping of first and of second page from Newspapers.com
  6. ^ a b Wright, Steve (1980-12-18). "Mother Protests School's Refusal to Refer Deaf Son". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 20C. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.

33°48′10″N 84°14′24″W / 33.80278°N 84.24000°W / 33.80278; -84.24000