North Dakota School for the Deaf

The North Dakota School for the Deaf (NDSD) is a state-funded residential school located in Devils Lake, North Dakota that provides services to meet the educational needs of children who are deaf and hard of hearing. NDSD is under the direction, control, and management of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. The current superintendent of the school is Dennis Fogelson.

History
Before the Dakota Territory was divided, deaf children living in the part of the territory now known as North Dakota had to do without an education or attend the school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Because of poor roads, great distances, meager railroads, and general financial inability, few of the North Dakota children could attend the South Dakota School for the Deaf. In the fall of 1889 Anson R. Spear, a deaf man from Minneapolis, Minnesota, came to North Dakota to establish a school for the deaf. Mr. Spear's political backers, Senator Swanston and Representative McCormick, introduced a bill in the Legislature for the immediate establishment for the proposed school in Devils Lake. The bill passed March 15, 1890, over the veto of Governor John Miller.

The citizens of Devils Lake furnished free for two years a wooden building located at the corner of Third Avenue and Fifth Street. Mr. Spear was appointed superintendent on August 1, 1890, and the first term began September 10, 1890. The first student to be enrolled was 10-year-old Mabel Alice Newton. By the end of the first school year, 23 children were enrolled. The combined method of communication - use of signs, hand alphabet, and oral method - was used to teach the students. In January of 1891, money was appropriated by the State Legislature for a permanent building.

The Great Northern Railway donated an 18-acre tract of land one mile north of the heart of Devils Lake for the permanent site of NDSD, and construction of the first building "Old Main" began on May 30, 1892. "Old Main" was designed by Olaf Hanson, a rising deaf architect from Minneapolis.

Philosophy
Through a caring, nurturing 24-hour residential and academic program and through outreach programming, NDSD provides educational and social opportunities which assist all students to attain their fullest potential.

Emphasis is placed on meeting the unique needs of each child, fostering positive values, good health and community involvement, and encouraging each student to view learning as a lifelong endeavor in an ever-changing world.

Each child's program emphasizes the development of functional language which includes the following:
 * expressive and receptive skills--speech
 * speechreading
 * manual communication (sign language and fingerspelling)
 * reading
 * writing
 * auditory processing

Each child's program stresses development of positive social and emotional attitudes, achievement in academic areas, vocational exploration, and development of lifelong independent living skills.

Athletics
NDSD offers very few athletics. There are sports for both female and male students. Football was co-oped with Devils Lake High School. The official mascot is Bulldogs. The official school colors are green and white.
 * Male Sports
 * Football (with Devils Lake High School)
 * Basketball
 * Track
 * Female Sports
 * Basketball
 * Track

Notable alumni

 * Phyllis Frelich - actress