1973 - 1979 Celebrated Centennial

Soon Lutheran School for the Deaf celebrated a century of God’s grace and blessings. During this 1973 celebration, the centennial capital campaign raised $1 million to further support the school.

In 1975, a federal law was passed mandating that public schools provide education for all handicapped children. This law and medical advances resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of children attending the school. The ministry’s focus shifted once again. Rather than close the doors, the board of trustees opened them wider. In 1976 a non-residential school was established on the same campus, where Lutheran Special Education Ministries provided a Christian education for children with various special learning needs.

As the national thrust of special education moved toward including children with unique learning needs in regular education settings, Lutheran Special Education Ministries began establishing satellite programs in Christian partnership schools. Holy Cross Lutheran School in Detroit became our first partnership school in 1979. Special education programs were designed to accommodate children so that they could attend their local Christian school. Eventually, all of the children at the original campus were transferred to other schools.