The Learning Center for the Deaf

The Learning Center for the Deaf (TLC) is a comprehensive educational and community services organization headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, dedicated to serving deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals across the lifespan. Founded in 1970 by Warren Schwab, Maureen O'Donnell, Wayne Farrell, and Dermont Keohane, TLC pioneered a "total communication" approach combined with innovative educational practices.

The organization operates two schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through adulthood: Marie Philip School, which enrolls more than 120 students (Pre-K to Grade 12+), and Walden School, a nationally recognized residential treatment program with a focus on trauma-informed care. Beyond education, TLC provides a broad range of community services including an audiology clinic, professional interpreting services, American Sign Language instruction, parent-infant programs, and statewide behavioral health services through Walden Community Services.

TLC serves an estimated 280 full-time employees and approximately 400 full and part-time staff combined, with annual revenues of approximately $26.9 million. The organization has expanded its service offerings to include specialized support for deaf and hard-of-hearing students who also have autism spectrum disorder, evidenced by recent grant funding from The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism to enhance accessibility and specialized resources for this population.

The Learning Center for the Deaf remains actively engaged in advancing education, community support, and quality of life for deaf and hard-of-hearing populations in Massachusetts and beyond, combining evidence-based practices with a commitment to accessibility and inclusion.