Willie Ross School for the Deaf

The Willie Ross School for the Deaf (WRSD) was founded in 1967 by parents who sought to establish an innovative program for their children. They developed a program emphasizing academic excellence that would demonstrate the benefits of educating deaf and hard-of-hearing children alongside hearing children. For nearly 50 years, the organization has maintained a commitment to an integrated learning environment that meets the unique needs of each student. This “Most Enabling Environment” model incorporates best practices in mainstream and Deaf education. Willie Ross School for the Deaf adopted Total Communication (TC), an approach to deaf education that, depending on the particular needs and abilities of the child, uses various modes of communication such as sign language, spoken language, auditory, written, and visual aids. Willie Ross School for the Deaf operates a dual-campus program in Longmeadow (main campus) and nearby East Longmeadow (Partnership campus in East Longmeadow Public Schools). The Partnership allows WRSD students to be selectively mainstreamed with hearing peers in their grade. WRSD currently has 65 students enrolled in its Campus Division programs and serves 350 people annually through its outreach programs. During the past five decades, we have served students from more than 35 school districts. Visit wrsdeaf.org to learn more!