Rooted in your success
At KDES, we are committed to ensuring that every student receives the support they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. We provide a wide range of educational support services, which are integrated into each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) based on their unique needs.
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At Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (KDES), we are dedicated to supporting the whole child. We provide a comprehensive range of student services to ensure every learner can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Each service is tailored to the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), and delivered through a collaborative, student-centered approach involving families, educators, and specialists.
Support Services Available at KDES:
- Academic Planning and IEP Support
- ASL Skill Development
- Audiological Services, including Cochlear Implant Support
- Occupational and Physical Therapy
- Psychoeducational Assessments and Services
- Social Work and Counseling
- Speech and Language Services
Our team of certified professionals works closely with students, families, and staff to provide individualized support that builds confidence, promotes growth, and lays the foundation for lifelong success.
Educational Planning and Support
Counseling, assessment, and social work services are integral components of the Student Services program at KDES. These services are designed to support students’ social-emotional development and overall well-being, helping them build the skills necessary for academic success and personal growth.
Counseling Services
Counseling is provided to help students:
- Strengthen social interaction and communication skills
- Enhance decision-making and problem-solving abilities
- Build self-esteem and emotional awareness
- Develop healthy coping strategies within and beyond the classroom
Counseling may be delivered through individual and group sessions, play therapy, peacemaking activities, and crisis intervention. Support is also provided indirectly through consultation and collaboration with teachers.
Integrated Support
Our team of counselors, a school social worker, and a school psychologist actively collaborate with educators and families to promote a positive, inclusive learning environment. All specialists are trained to work with deaf and hard-of-hearing students and are available on-site to provide:
- Direct student services
- Preventative mental health support
- Early identification and intervention strategies
Working as a multidisciplinary team, these professionals assess student needs and deliver coordinated services. When necessary, they also partner with families to identify and arrange for additional support from community-based providers or private practitioners.
IEP Services
IEP case managers collaborate with students, parents or legal guardians, the IEP coordinator, and school personnel to develop an individualized educational plan that supports each student’s unique needs and postsecondary goals. They also monitor student progress and provide guidance to help students become self-directed, independent, and resourceful learners.
Services may include:
- Assessment of speech, language, and communication abilities
- Development of spoken English
- Auditory training and listening skill development
Literacy support
General communication strategies
Services are delivered in a variety of formats, including:
- One-on-one sessions
Small group instruction
Integrated support within the classroom setting
This flexible and personalized approach ensures students receive meaningful support in building their communication skills.
Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy (OT/PT)
Occupational and physical therapy services at KDES are designed to support students in developing the motor, life, and sensory integration skills necessary for success in the school environment. These services promote independence, build confidence, and support students in actively engaging with their learning and peers.
Services may include:
- Fine and gross motor skill development
- Support for life skills and sensory integration
- Mobility training and equipment use
- Specialized classroom accommodations
Students may receive direct therapy or consultative support, depending on individual needs. All OT and PT services are provided based on each student’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Available services may include:
Comprehensive audiological evaluations
Technology assessments and ongoing device management (e.g., hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive listening devices)
Counseling and support for students and families
MSSD also offers a Cochlear Implant (CI) Support Group, which meets throughout the year for students who use CIs or want to learn more about the technology.
Audiological services are available throughout the school year on an as-needed basis, ensuring ongoing support for student success.
Emerging Signers Services (ESS)
All classes, programs, and services at KDES and MSSD are conducted in American Sign Language (ASL). Our students come from a wide range of communication backgrounds, and we recognize that some may enter with limited or no ASL fluency.
Emerging Signers Services (ESS) provides individualized support for students as they acquire ASL skills. This program ensures that students are able to access their education while gradually gaining linguistic independence. Services are tailored based on each student’s needs and are reduced as the student becomes more proficient and confident in ASL.
Available Services May Include:
- Direct ASL instruction and ongoing assessment
- ASL as a curriculum enhancement class
- One-on-one sessions with an ASL specialist
- Classroom teacher accommodations
- Interpreting services
- Note-taking support
- Language mediation and Certified Deaf Interpreting (CDI)
- Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART)/captioning
- Spoken English interpretation
- Social-emotional support related to identity, culture, and language development
- Counseling services
Our goal is to empower all students to fully engage in their learning environment while honoring their individual language journeys.
Multicultural and Transliteration Services (MTS)
Multicultural and Transliteration Services (MTS) supports KDES students, families, teachers, and staff by providing interpreting, translation, and cultural mediation services. These services ensure clear communication and inclusive support for our multilingual and multicultural community.
Services include:
- Interpreting and Translation
Bilingual and trilingual services are available for Clerc Center staff and for families who use languages other than English. These services help ensure effective communication and engagement for families with deaf or hard-of-hearing children enrolled at KDES. - Multicultural Support
Families from diverse cultural backgrounds receive ongoing cultural and informational support to ease their transition and promote a successful academic experience.
Language HelpLine
A dedicated phone line is available during regular business hours—and after hours—for non-English-speaking parents of KDES and MSSD students. Families can leave messages for staff or use the line in emergency situations.
Audiological Services
MSSD provides a wide range of audiological services at no cost to students and their families. These services are designed to support students’ access to sound and communication technologies based on individual needs.
Available services may include:
Comprehensive audiological evaluations
Technology assessments and ongoing device management (e.g., hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive listening devices)
Counseling and support for students and families
MSSD also offers a Cochlear Implant (CI) Support Group, which meets throughout the year for students who use CIs or want to learn more about the technology.
Audiological services are available throughout the school year on an as-needed basis, ensuring ongoing support for student success.
Speech-Language Services
Speech-language services at MSSD are tailored to each student’s needs and outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). These services are designed to support the development of effective communication skills that enhance academic and social success.
Services may include:
- Assessment of speech, language, and communication abilities
- Development of spoken English
- Auditory training and listening skill development
Literacy support
General communication strategies
Services are delivered in a variety of formats, including:
- One-on-one sessions
Small group instruction
Integrated support within the classroom setting
This flexible and personalized approach ensures students receive meaningful support in building their communication skills.
Library Services at MSSD
Children’s Library
The Children’s Library offers a wide selection of materials, including board books, picture books, graphic novels, fiction, nonfiction, easy-to-read books, and biographies. A special collection of Deaf-related books in children’s literature is also available.
Computer Lab & Materials Room
This space includes six computers and a laser printer for student use. It also houses a wide range of visual and educational resources, including videotapes, filmstrips, study prints, posters, and vertical files. Shelves feature Deaf-related professional books and specialized collections for staff and student enrichment.
Library Hours
Monday–Friday: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Student Health Service
The KDES nurse’s office operates as an extension of Gallaudet University’s Student Health Services to provide on-campus medical care for the KDES student community. Serving in a supportive role alongside students’ primary healthcare providers, the nurse ensures that each child remains safe and healthy while at school.
The nurse’s office collects required annual health forms, as mandated by the DC Department of Health, and coordinates with families and physicians to meet students’ individual medical needs.
Services Provided
- Illness & Injury Care
Assessment and treatment of common illnesses and minor injuries. - Medication Administration
Dispensing of prescribed medications during school hours. - Rapid Testing
COVID-19 and Flu A/B rapid tests available on-site. - Healthcare Navigation
Referrals and recommendations for local medical providers. - Health Education
Age-appropriate health and wellness instruction by grade level.
Contact Information
School Nurse: Pamela Batist, BSN, RN
pamela.batist@gallaudet.edu
VP: 202-559-5082 | Voice/Text: 202-651-5046
Cafe | Bon Appetit
Schedule and Menu Available
Library Hours
Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Closed on Saturday, Sunday, and University holidays.
Transportation
KDES offers free bus transportation to students residing within a 15-mile radius of the U.S. Capitol. For families living outside this area, designated pick-up and drop-off locations are available within the 15-mile boundary to ensure continued access to transportation services.