Admission Policy

1. Purpose

This policy outlines the criteria, procedures, and principles for admission to Happy Hands School for the Deaf, ensuring equal opportunity, transparency, and inclusion for all eligible deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

2. Vision of Admission

Admissions at Happy Hands aim to:

• Provide access to quality bilingual education (Indian Sign Language + English)
• Support language development as a foundation (L1 – ISL)
• Prioritize children who lack access to appropriate deaf education
• Build an inclusive and supportive learning environment

3. Eligibility Criteria

Children are eligible if they:

• Are deaf or hard of hearing
• Are typically between 4 to 16 years of age (flexible in special cases)
• Are medically/physically fit for a residential school environment
• Come from families willing to engage in the child’s language and learning development

4. Priority for Admission

Priority may be given to:

• Children with no access to deaf education
• Children from rural and underserved communities
• Children of economically weaker sections
• Siblings of existing students
• Children showing learning readiness and family commitment

5. Admission Process

Step 1: Application

• Submission of application form (online/offline)
• Required documents:
• Disability certificate (if available)
• Age proof
• Previous school records (if any)
• Aadhar card etc. at time of admission

Step 2: Interaction & Assessment

• Basic interaction with child (non-verbal/visual communication accepted)
• Assessment of:
• Communication level
• Learning readiness
• Social behaviour

Step 3: Parent Interaction

• Orientation of parents on:
• Bilingual education approach
• Importance of ISL exposure
• Residential school expectations

Step 4: Admission Decision

• Based on holistic evaluation, not academic performance alone

6. Medium of Instruction

• Indian Sign Language (ISL) – primary language (L1)
• English (written form) – secondary language (L2)

7. Residential Policy

• Happy Hands is primarily a residential school
• Students are expected to stay on campus during academic sessions
• Parents must:
• Cooperate with school schedules
• Attend meetings/trainings when required

8. Fee Structure & Contributions

• Fees are structured to support:
• Education
• Boarding and lodging
• Learning resources
• Contributions include:
• Admission / Re-admission (yearly)
• Uniform (yearly)
• Monthly contribution

9. Scholarship Policy

Happy Hands is committed to inclusion:

• Scholarships available for:
• Economically disadvantaged families
• Students with good academic merit
• Partial or full support may be provided
• Requires application and review

10. Inclusion & Non-Discrimination

• No child shall be denied admission based on:
• Gender
• Religion
• Caste
• Socio-economic background
• Focus remains on need and suitability

11. Trial/Adjustment Period

• Newly admitted students may undergo a trial period (1–3 months)
• Purpose:
• Adjust to residential life
• Adapt to sign language environment

12. Withdrawal & Continuation

• Admission may be reviewed if:
• The child is unable to adjust after support
• Health or safety concerns arise
• Parents may withdraw with prior notice

13. Documentation & Record Keeping

• All student records will be maintained securely
• Confidentiality will be respected

14. Authority

Final admission decisions rest with:
Director – Happy Hands School for the Deaf

15. Policy Review

• This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed