Total Communication Program

The mission of the Total Communication Program is to educate Deaf and Hard of Hearing students from preschool to 6th grade in a supportive learning environment that facilitates the acquisition of communication, literacy, and knowledge in the least restrictive environment.

Total Communication (TC) is a philosophy for educating deaf and hard of hearing students. It allows accessibility to language through a variety of modes including but not limited to American Sign Language (ASL), written and spoken English, finger spelling, speechreading, gestures, drawings, and the use of amplification and technology. TC allows the individual student to use the mode of communication that is most appropriate and comfortable in a given situation. It is a philosophy that allows flexibility by providing a variety of communication options, which caters to each student’s individual needs. Our program serves Deaf and Hard of Hearing children from preschool to sixth grade. Each student receives an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that addresses his or her academic, social, emotional, and physical needs. The TC Program uses Fairfax County’s Program of Studies (POS) as a curriculum guide. This program is comprised of Teachers of the Deaf, Instructional Assistants, a Speech and Language Clinician, an Educational Audiologist, a Social Worker, and Sign Language Interpreters. Additional school staff who provide support to the TC program are a school psychologist, an occupational therapist, and an adaptive PE teacher all of whom can sign. Mrs. Tina Tingler, Assistant Principal, is the administrator responsible for the TC program.

Learn more about our TC program.