What American School For The Deaf (inc) does

American School for the Deaf (ASD) is a private nonprofit educational institution headquartered at 139 North Main Street in West Hartford, Connecticut, founded in 1817 as the first permanent school for the deaf in the United States and the oldest special education school in the Western Hemisphere. ASD serves deaf and hard of hearing individuals from birth through age 21, plus adults through outreach programs, delivering a comprehensive ASL/English bilingual curriculum that integrates American Sign Language, speech, auditory training, reading, writing, and assistive hearing technology (Phonak amplification systems, Cochlear Implant mapping, SMART Interactive Whiteboards, sensory rooms). The school operates multiple interconnected programs including the CORE PreK-12 day and residential program, the PACES residential treatment program for students with emotional and behavioral challenges, the Autism Expansion program for deaf and hearing non-verbal students on the spectrum, an International Program for students ages 10-21, the Bridge transition program, and an Online Academy for remote learners.

The school's revenue model is diversified across tuition and educational services (day and residential for ages 3-21), philanthropic contributions through its Annual Fund and tiered giving circles (Friends of ASD up to the Third Century Circle at $10,000+), planned giving via the 1817 Society, special events such as the annual golf tournament, fee-based community ASL classes, summer camp fees at Camp Isola Bella, and government grants including a $1 million American Rescue Plan Act grant through the Connecticut Office of Aging & Disability Services for the Lost in Translation campaign. Outreach services include statewide Birth-to-Three home-based programs, the Deaf Mentor Program, and audiology services delivered across Connecticut and approved by ten additional state Departments of Education for cross-state enrollment. GTM is sales-led through direct admissions, with a website-driven inquiry process, virtual tours on the SeekBeak platform, and community/family engagement channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, email via Constant Contact).

ASD holds institutional accreditation from NEASC, CEASD, and the Council on Accreditation, is approved as a special education provider by Connecticut and ten other state Departments of Education, and is licensed for residential services by the CT Department of Children and Families. The PACES program is recognized as a PBIS Model Demonstration Program. The school is led by Executive Director Jeffrey S. Bravin with an Executive Leadership Team, and governance is provided by a Board of Directors. ASD is supported operationally by a faculty and professional staff in which over 90% hold master's degrees or above and 100% of faculty are Connecticut-certified teachers.

Name

American School For The Deaf (inc)

Legal name

American School for the Deaf

Website

https://asd-1817.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1817

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

American School for the Deaf is a 200+ year-old private nonprofit in West Hartford, CT, delivering ASL/English bilingual education and therapeutic residential programs for deaf and hard of hearing individuals from birth through adulthood.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education

NAICS

Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI)

Keywords

• Deaf education
• Special education services
• Sign language instruction
• Residential school programs
• Early intervention services

Headquarters

HQ city

West Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Educational Services: Revenue from providing educational programs including day and residential services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students ages 3-21
2. Annual Fund Donations: Philanthropic donations supporting academics, residential life, athletics, extracurricular activities, Early Childhood Intervention Program, Camp Isola Bella, and preservation of historical archives
3. Special Events: Annual golf tournament and other fundraising events
4. Planned Giving: Estate planned gifts through the 1817 Society, creating sustainable funding for future students
5. Community Sign Language Classes: Adult, youth, and baby sign language classes offered for fees of $250 and $125
6. Summer Camp Programs: Camp Isola Bella summer camp sessions for youth and teens
7. Grants: $1 million American Rescue Plan Act grant through Connecticut Office of Aging & Disability Services for communication accessibility initiatives

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

American School for the Deaf operates a comprehensive educational institution serving deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals from birth through adulthood. Core offerings include day and residential academic programs (preschool through grade 12) taught through an ASL/English bilingual approach, the PACES therapeutic residential treatment program, the Autism Expansion program, an International Program, an Online Academy, and outreach services such as Birth-to-Three early intervention, Audiology with cochlear implant mapping, a Deaf Mentor Program, Community Sign Language classes, and Camp Isola Bella summer camp.

Product overview

American School for the Deaf operates as a comprehensive educational institution offering multiple interconnected programs and services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals from birth through adulthood. The core offerings include The CORE Program (preschool through grade 12 academics with boarding/day options), the PACES therapeutic residential treatment program for students with behavioral/emotional challenges, the Autism Expansion Program serving both deaf and hearing non-verbal students on the autism spectrum, and an International Program for students ages 10-21. Supplementary services include Birth-to-Three early intervention, Deaf Mentor Program, Audiology Services with cochlear implant support, Community Sign Language Classes, and Camp Isola Bella summer camp. The institution also provides Online Academy for remote learning, transition services through the Bridge Program, and outreach initiatives like the Lost in Translation Campaign. All programs follow a bilingual ASL/English approach to communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The CORE Program
• PACES Program
• Bridge Program (Transition Services)
• Autism Expansion Program
• International Program
• Online Academy
• Deaf Mentor Program
• Birth-to-Three Program
• Audiology Services
• Community Sign Language Classes
• Camp Isola Bella
• Sensory Program
• Lost in Translation Campaign
• Health and Physical Education
• Learning Resource Center
• Theater Immersion Program (TIP)

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 50% of ASD graduates go on to college/postsecondary programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lands' End for BusinessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for ASD branded apparel and merchandise. Lands' End provides high-quality apparel with ASD branding available through their business store platform.
• BSN SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAthletic apparel supplier for ASD sports teams. Provides merchandise from brands including North Face, Under Armour, and Nike through their school athletics platform.
• Lyman Orchards Golf ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for the 49th Annual ASD Golf Tournament scheduled for October 8th, 2026. Sponsors and supporters gather annually for this signature fundraising event.
• Deaf Autism AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Annual Autreat - a retreat for parents of deaf autistic children. Deaf Autism America co-hosts this event with ASD, with childcare provided through ASD's Camp Isola Bella.
• National Theater of the DeafcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Theater Immersion Program (TIP) - a two-week intensive program at ASD for deaf and hard of hearing high school students. NTD provides workshops, theater classes, seminars, and rehearsals culminating in a showcase performance.
• Colegio San Gabriel School for the Deaf (CGS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership with deaf school in Puerto Rico that was devastated by Hurricane Maria. ASD students raised funds and traveled to bring science supplies; Puerto Rican students visited ASD for STEM learning and SeaPerch competitions.
• Central Connecticut State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for intensive English language study program for international students at ASD
• University of St. JosephminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for ASD's first invitational SeaPerch scrimmage competition
• Connecticut Birth-to-Three Delivery SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASD Birth-to-Three Program is approved as a hearing specialty provider within the State of Connecticut Birth-to-Three Delivery System, providing statewide services

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Gallaudet University: The nation's flagship university for deaf and hard of hearing students, chartered by Congress in 1864 by ASD's namesake. Gallaudet is the downstream postsecondary destination for many ASD graduates and shares the bilingual ASL/English educational mission, making it a directly comparable mission-aligned institution.
• National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology: First and largest technological college for deaf and hard of hearing students in the U.S., serving a comparable deaf-education mission with a STEM/technical focus. Comparable as a federally supported deaf-education institution, though serving postsecondary rather than K-12.

Direct peers

• Indiana School for the Deaf: Indiana's state residential and day school for deaf and hard of hearing students, providing K-12 academics plus early childhood and outreach services. Comparable in mission and program structure, though serving a smaller Midwestern population.
• The Learning Center for the Deaf (TLC) / Marie Philip School: Massachusetts-based K-8 day school (Marie Philip) and broader TLC programs serving deaf and hard of hearing students, including outreach and family services. Geographically and operationally overlapping with ASD's New England catchment.
• California School for the Deaf, Fremont: A state-run K-12 residential and day school for deaf and hard of hearing students in California, directly comparable to ASD in mission, age range served (infant through age 22), and bilingual ASL/English instructional approach. California's population base makes it a larger-scale peer.
• New York School for the Deaf (Fanwood): Historic K-12 residential school for deaf students in White Plains, NY. One of the oldest deaf schools in the U.S. and a directly comparable residential special-education institution serving a multi-state Northeast catchment - overlapping with ASD's geography.
• Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind: Florida's state-supported residential school serving both deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visually impaired students from birth through age 22. Comparable in full-continuum service model and residential capacity, with the additional sensory-disability focus.
• Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech: A multi-state network of schools and early-intervention programs for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, with audiology and listening-and-spoken-language services. Comparable in serving the same population but differentiated by oral/aural emphasis versus ASD's ASL-bilingual model.
• California School for the Deaf, Riverside: California's second state deaf school, serving southern California. Operates a near-identical K-12 residential/day model for deaf and HoH students, including early intervention and outreach, and competes for West Coast residential enrollment.
• Texas School for the Deaf: Texas's state-supported K-12 residential and day school for deaf and hard of hearing students, providing a full continuum of services from early childhood through high school. Directly comparable in program structure, age range, and ASL/English bilingual pedagogy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChB34sMMjLTSrfjbcyybwqg
• Facebookfacebook.com/asd1817
• Instagraminstagram.com/asd1817
• Xx.com/asd_1817

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American School For The Deaf (inc)