Stepping Out Programme (K to grade 12)

Itinerant Teaching:  Serving deaf or hard-of-hearing students from Kindergarten through Grade 12

At the request of the enrolling school and parents, our itinerant (visiting) teachers assist children from Kindergarten through Grade 12, serving Group 1 and Group 2 independent schools http://www.fisabc.ca in the Greater Vancouver region. The programme supports transition for deaf or hard of hearing children to mainstream classrooms with the objective of maximizing a child’s linguistic, academic, social and emotional development. The primary focus of the VOC itinerant teacher programme is ongoing development of auditory/oral skills to expand receptive and expressive language and refine speech skills of deaf and hard-of- hearing students. Part of a comprehensive language and audition development service, sessions typically are one-on-one with the teacher and the student.

Core Services Provided to All Students

In-service with school staff:
  • General and specific knowledge on hearing loss
  • Interpretation of audiograms
  • Impact of hearing loss on learning
  • Use and maintenance of audiological equipment (hearing aids, FM equipment, cochlear implants)
  • Acoustical modifications for managing the auditory environment
  • Clear communication between the student with hearing loss and their peers and teachers
  • Successful instructional strategies
  • Safety issues
In-service with student peers:


The Itinerant Teacher provides age appropriate presentations to the student’s classmates, as appropriate, outlining:

  • Physiology of normal and abnormal hearing
  • How we develop speech and language
  • Etiology of hearing loss
  • The process of hearing assessment
  • Signs of hearing loss
  • Audiological evaluation
  • Interpreting an audiogram
  • How audiological technology assists those with hearing loss
  • How to communicate effectively with those with hearing loss
  • How to protect hearing
Collaboration with the student’s educational team to include:
  • Technical advice
  • Assessment
  • Classroom observation
  • Program planning
  • Report writing
  • Ongoing support
  • Consultation with parents
Direct intervention varies according to a student’s individual needs:


These include the following:

  • Regularly scheduled one-on-one sessions with the teacher of the deaf and hard-of-hearing
  • Consultation with the VOC Audiologist
  • Consultation with other educational and health professionals
  • Developing communication skills
  • Academic support
See Admissions

See: Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf Services Brochure

VOC_Itinerant_Teacher_WEB1.pdf