Children learn about both the Hearing and Deaf Cultures and respect for both languages and cultures is emphasized. Cleary continues to seek ways to improve its implementation of this philosophy. The focus is on developing a strong communicative relationship between the family and the child who is deaf. Many additional services such as a parent support group, morning ASL classes, parent educator, audiological evaluations and speech and language therapy are available to help parents understand deafness, Deaf Culture and the educational needs of children who are deaf. This means that for every six students there is one teacher and either one or two teacher assistants.
Most students participate in classes following the New York State requirements.
They also attend classes in the areas of Art, Dance, Physical Education, Health, Library, Computer, Home and Careers and Technology, and Speech and Language Therapy is offered three times a week on an individual basis. Services are also available for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Counseling, Perceptual Motor skills, Orientation and Mobility Training and Visual Training as needed, on an individual basis. Students in the elementary program's graduating class have the opportunity to attend the East Islip Junior High School for inclusion into classes with the support of a Cleary interpreter. Upon graduating from the elementary program, students enter Cleary's Secondary Program , housed in East Islip High School. Here, depending on ability, students learn through a variety of options.