Mainstreaming is when a deaf student attends public school, rather than a special school for the deaf.  The term mainstreaming is used interchangeably with inclusion or integration.  Once it's decided that mainstreaming is the best educational option for the deaf or hard of hearing child, there are many choices under the umbrella of mainstreaming to consider.  

Here's a brief overview:

• Total mainstreaming
  • In total mainstreaming, the deaf student is in a regular education classroom with normal hearing students.
• Partial mainstreaming
  • With partial mainstreaming, the deaf student is in a regular education classroom for some classes, but also attends classes in a resource room.  A resource room is designed for the deaf or hard of hearing student and the teachers are specially trained to teach deaf/hard of hearing students.
  • Another option of partial mainstreaming is that the child may spend a majority of their time in a regular education classroom, but a teacher of the deaf may come in and spend a few days a week teaching the student.
• Team teaching
  • This approach is not as common as the others.  In team teaching, a regular education teacher and a teacher of the deaf teach the deaf student in a class that has both hearing and deaf students.

References:

Raising Deaf Kids:  Mainstreaming. Retrieved July 1, 2009, from http://www.raisingdeafkids.org/learning/choices/mainstream/

Kristen Mounts Thompson

July 1, 2009