Student & Family Testimonials

“Today I attended Kervon’s last IEP meeting at his current school. It was such a bittersweet moment. I can’t believe how quickly it is coming to an end at a school we will truly never forget. NWSDHH is like family. They treat you as such and you feel so welcome and loved here. Our experience from the start has been nothing short of amazing. There has never been an IEP meeting that I’ve attended for him where I felt, lost or defeated. Or a meeting where I was left with more questions than answers. Even when I didn’t fully grasp or understand what was going on, I still felt support. This school met his needs, and they’ve gone far and beyond to ensure that his years he spent there were memorable. I can’t thank them enough. To every single staff member, I say a hearty thank you. Thank you for caring for Kervon.”

– Tyler B., NWSDHH family

“The school holds a very special place in my heart because of the incredible love and support I received from the founders, Mrs. Callahan and Mrs. Appelman, as well as the dedication of the teachers. I have very fond and vivid memories from my time there. The education I received not only gave me a strong academic foundation but also helped build my confidence, allowing me to transition smoothly into mainstream education when the time was right. It has been such a pleasure to return to the school and experience it through the eyes of other families. I’m truly excited about the incredible support the children receive and can’t wait to see them continue to thrive and shine. It’s also been inspiring to witness the staff’s dedication and passion for helping both students and parents. The school is doing so many great things — and there’s even more to come! Part of the school’s mission is to ‘prepare deaf and hard-of-hearing children to be self-confident, articulate, and academically competitive learners, and engaged community members’ — and they absolutely fulfilled that mission in my life. I look forward to supporting the school as it continues that mission, helping current and future students achieve the same success I was fortunate to experience.”

– Jean Collings, former NWSDHH student and current board president

“Kieran has been excelling at school from the day he started. We were worried about the transition, but he came home the first day telling us all about his new teacher and friends. He hasn’t even been there for a month, but already his signing and his verbal language has soared so much. I have never seen him so excited to take the bus and go to school, and he loves playing pretend bus and school when he’s at home.”

– Marissa P., NWSDHH parent

“NWSDHH taught me many things such as discipline, respect, empathy, critical thinking skills, and how to read, write and do math. To learn these things, they taught me in a language I understood because it gave me a visual representation of spoken English. It has given me the access to fill in blanks for English words or sounds I am missing by using my cochlear implant alone as well. NWSDHH has given me the opportunity to create a world in the middle where I have the best of both deaf and hearing worlds. I always say that I am bridging the gap between the deaf and hearing worlds. In my opinion, the most important lesson they have taught me is to be kind. It is about caring about others and doing things to help make their lives better. It allows me to connect with other people and embrace differences such as culture, perceptions, and values.”

– Ciara O., former NWSDHH student and current employee

“Northwest School means so much to me and my family. I love this school and all the teachers and administrators. I made so many lifelong friends here, both Deaf and hearing. Northwest School is where I learned to communicate. I learned to read. I learned to advocate for myself and my community. I do not know where I would be without the love and support of my Northwest family!”

– Ammon W., former NWSDHH student

“As the proud parents of two NWSDHH students, Shawn and I cannot adequately express our appreciation and respect for the school and staff. When our son Riley was three years old we learned he had severe hearing loss. There was no history of deafness in our family so there was no roadmap for us to follow. Lucky for us, NWSDHH was close and we were able to enroll Riley in the school as a preschooler.

When our daughter Chelsea was born a few years later, we quickly learned she had the same hearing loss as her brother and she began attending the school on her third birthday. Both children have excelled and flourished at the school. NWSDHH has provided support for us as parents and, more importantly, incredible opportunities for Riley and Chelsea. Our children have thrived and continued to thrive in ways that exceeded all expectations and are prepared for academic, personal and professional success.”

– Eric B., NWSDHH parent

“We chose NWSDHH because of all the opportunities they offer for children with hearing loss. One of our favorite things about NWSDHH has been the rapid learning that children have when they enter, and the personal care and communication with parents.”

– Salvador C., NWSDHH parent

“All the teachers and staff of NWSDHH are awesome. Deaf kids need lots of attention and care, which they can get from NWSDHH. It is a school where your kid will feel at home.”

– Pravakar G., NWDSHH parent

“We are very happy and grateful for all the support that’s given to us.”

– The Rojas Family, NWSDHH family

“I’m grateful I was able to go to NWSDHH, I can’t imagine where I would be in my life without going to NWSDHH.”

– Aaliyah C., former NWSDHH student

“Some of the things that really caught our attention included: the school’s total communication philosophy, small class sizes and the connection with the neighborhood schools.”

– Stacy L., NWSDHH parent

“I feel this school is so safe and very caring, and I like their way of teaching the children. I think it’s so amazing seeing my son go to my old school.”

– Chelsea P., former NWSDHH student and parent

“Finding and learning about NWSDHH opened up a marvelous opportunity for us. We both learned to be advocates for ourselves and for each other.”

– Maita G., NWSDHH parent

“Northwest School has been an absolute blessing to our son and our family!! We couldn’t ask for a more caring and supportive group of teachers, assistants and staff members to be involved in giving him the education & skills he needs as a child with hearing loss in a mostly hearing world.”

– Erica D., NWSDHH parent

“Wonderful school. The staff are awesome. They have helped my daughter so much.”

– Dave H., NWSDHH parent