TN School for the Blind

AKA:

TSB, Tennessee School for the Blind

Description:

Provides free, appropriate, and individualized educational services to visually impaired kindergarten through 12th grade students in a safe environment that will promote independence and a positive self-image, as well as provide information and technical assistance to families, schools, and agencies serving all Tennessee children who are visually challenged. The school also offers summer camp, preschool summer evaluation for Tennessee children ages 3-5 with visual impairment, and assessments and direct educational services for Tennessee students with visual impairment.

Hours:

Mon - Fri 7:35 am - 3:15 pm

Intake Process:

1. Admission procedures will begin when an official representative from the local education agency (LEA) and the parent(s)/guardian indicate an interest in having a student transfer to the Tennessee School for the Blind by contacting the admissions coordinator and completing the admissions packet (available online).

2. The applicant must meet the Tennessee State Board of Education's Definition and Eligibility Standards for visual impairments.
A) Definition of !€œDisabilities!€ (State Board of Education Rule 0520-1-9-.01 (15) (p))

"Visual Impairment Including Blindness" means the impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child!€™s educational performance.

B) Eligibility Standards

The child shall meet the definition of visual impairment and one or more of the following:

Visual acuity in the better eye or both eyes with best possible correction of 20/70 or less at distance and/or near viewing;
Visual field restriction with both eyes with the remaining visual field of 60 degrees or less;
Medical and educational documentation of progressive loss of vision, which may in the future affect the student's ability to learn visually;
Other visual impairment, not perceptual in nature, resulting from a medically documented condition (i.e., cortical visual impairment).
3. Only children ages 7 and over will be considered for residential placement.

4. The Superintendent in consultation with the Admissions Committee of the TENNESSEE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND will make the final determination of eligibility for admission. A major consideration is whether or not the school has an educational program that meets the needs of the student challenged, primarily, by severe vision loss. This determination might necessitate the applicant undergoing an educational, psychological and/or ophthalmologic assessment by the staff of the Tennessee School for the Blind.

5. The superintendent will have the prerogative to admit children whose application is accompanied by an ophthalmologist's statement that the prognosis is "poor" and the visual acuity is decreasing. The visual findings of the ophthalmologist employed by the school will be final.

Program Fees:

The state provides tuition and books free of charge for all students. Board, lodging, and laundry service are provided to residential students. A 24-hour
clinic staff supervises existing medical and physician orders. Round-trip bus transportation is provided weekly for residential students outside the greater Nashville area. Parents or guardians provide for all other expenses.

Eligibility:

Tennessee students in K - 12th grade with visual impairments and one or more of the following:
Visual acuity in the better eye or both eyes with best possible correction of 20/70 or less at distance and/or near viewing;
Visual field restriction with both eyes with the remaining visual field of 60 degrees or less;
Medical and educational documentation of progressive loss of vision, which may in the future affect the student's ability to learn visually;
Other visual impairment, not perceptual in nature, resulting from a medically documented condition (i.e., cortical visual impairment).

Is Shelter?

No

Legal Status:

Other