The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (VSDB) is a state agency that serves students whose primary disability involves vision or hearing loss including those students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/vision impaired, deaf-blind, and/or sensory impaired with other disabilities. VSDB is dually accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD). Over 80% of the student body has more than one disability with an increasing number being identified as multi-disabled. Currently, VSDB serves 15 deaf-blind students with that number increasing yearly. Services are provided for children from birth to those who have not reached their 22nd birthday by September 30 of the current school year.
VSDB serves students across the Commonwealth who are placed through the IEP process and in collaboration with their LEA. A student may enroll in VSDB as a residential or day student. Any student living within a 35-mile radius of VSDB may enroll as a day student. Two-thirds of VSDB’s student body is residential. Related to disability status, two-thirds of the student body is served under the category of “deafness” as their primary disability. VSDB provides special education and related services, diagnostic evaluations, transportation, residential hall services, community experiences, vocational training, work experience, and other support services according to the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Nursing services are provided on a 24/7 basis to meet the needs of the residential program.
