Massachusetts school for those with hearing loss evolves.
Ongoing changes at Clarke Schools for Hearing & Speech in Massachusetts –founded in 1867 — reflect the evolution of education for those who cannot hear. The use of cochlear implants and earlier identification of hearing difficulties have led to lower enrollment and downsizing of the school’s campus and many teachers now primarily working with students in traditional schools. “We thought if we could give our kids the opportunity to connect freely with the 99.98 percent of the population that uses spoken language, then it was something we wanted to do,” school President William J. Corwin said.