Our story. Our mission.
“Deaft” Educational Solutions isn’t just another contracting agency; it’s a mission born from personal experience and deep community roots. As a Deaf/Hard of Hearing teacher-owned and operated company, we bring an insider understanding of the classroom and a profound connection to the Deaf community to every partnership.
Our founder, Joshua, exemplifies this unique perspective. Hard-of-Hearing himself, he wasn’t exposed to ASL until high school when he moved from his small, rural hometown. It was then that he fell in love with the language and became involved in the local Deaf community. This experience transformed his life, leading him to Gallaudet University, the globally recognized hub for Deaf Education, Deaf Culture, and ASL. At Gallaudet, Joshua, who once felt self-conscious about his hearing and speech, slowly came to embrace his identity as a proud member of the Deaf community. This journey instilled in him a profound desire to make a difference as a Teacher of the Deaf, helping younger Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals find that same sense of belonging and self-acceptance earlier in their lives, regardless of their preferred communication methods.
In 2021, significant life changes forced Joshua to step away from the traditional brick-and-mortar classroom. Unwilling to completely leave behind the field he loved, Joshua explored alternatives. He was contacted by staffing companies seeking virtual Deaf Education teachers. Initially skeptical about the effectiveness of "virtual teaching," Joshua decided to give it a chance and landed a job as a Virtual Itinerant of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing working with a caseload of students spread across a rural district in mainstreamed schools.
Both Joshua and the school district were unsure how virtual services would work out, but Joshua committed to giving his students his all. He quickly excelled in the virtual environment and his students thrived. Over the course of that year:
A student who lacked fluency in ASL or English at the beginning of the year was signing detailed personal stories by year-end.
Another student, initially unable to write or even recognize their own name, was reading at a 1st-grade level.
A student once embarrassed to sign in front of classmates began teaching her friends ASL to communicate.
A family learned about the “Continuum of Special Education Services” and realized that a School for the Deaf was the best fit for their child’s needs.
A student who was considering dropping out of school mentioned that they ultimately decided to stay and finish the year because of a conversation they had with their DHH teacher.
Once skeptical himself, Joshua found his calling in virtual education, realizing its power to reach students who might otherwise lack adequate—or any—DHH services. It was then that “Deaft” Educational Solutions was born, with the mission of providing crucial access to language, communication, and self-advocacy skills for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students nationwide, particularly in hard-to-staff areas. “Deaft” Educational Solutions now stands as your trusted ally in providing essential DHH services. Partner with us today to bring unparalleled expertise and a truly empathetic approach to your students, ensuring every child with a hearing difference receives the specialized support they deserve.