Thanks to the Aurora Golden Triangle Sertoma Club, students at the Southeast Texas Regional Day School Program for the Deaf (RDSPD) have received a much-needed boost in the classroom.

The club selected RDSPD as the recipient of its most recent Sertoma Club Grant. The funding was used to purchase assistive listening devices that help students hear more clearly and stay engaged in the classroom, giving them greater opportunities to learn, participate and thrive each day.

Last spring, club members had the opportunity to volunteer at RDSPD's annual Play Day, a celebration filled with fun, laughter and community. While spending time with the students and staff, members were especially excited to see the new assistive listening devices already making a difference. Students were using the technology in their daily activities, and teachers were able to communicate more effectively in the classroom.

The Southeast Texas Regional Day School Program for the Deaf is a specialized services arrangement serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students across 26 regional school districts and two charter schools. The program provides shared services for students in grades K-12 and supports a diverse range of communication approaches, including American Sign Language (ASL), Signing Exact English (SEE), spoken English and assistive technology. Enrollment in RDSPD is based on each student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), providing customized, hands-on learning opportunities designed to meet their unique needs.

Seeing the grant come to life firsthand is a meaningful reminder of the impact Sertoma's mission can have. By supporting programs like RDSPD, the Aurora Golden Triangle Sertoma Club continues to improve hearing health, remove barriers to communication and create brighter futures for children in its community.