TN 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.

Hours

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

Required Documents

Completed admissions packet, birth certificate, Current IEP, Current eligibility report, Current eye report by an optometrist or ophthalmologist dated within one year, Functional Vision Assessment, Learning Media Assessment, Copies of all prior assessments conducted by the LEA, and for students who are ELLs, a copy of the Language Survey and ELL services provided.

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).

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.

Intake Procedure

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 “Disabilities” (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.

Geography Served

Contact

Telephone Numbers

Description

The Outreach Program of the Tennessee School for the Blind (TSB) offers a variety of services to children with visual impairments. These include both assessment and direct educational services. Assessment services include but are not limited to: functional vision assessments, orientation and mobility assessments, daily living skills assessments and technology assessments. These assessments are typically completed at the student's school. Direct educational services provided by a certified Teacher for Students with Visual Impairments and/or an Orientation and Mobility Specialist are also available on a limited basis. The school also offers a summer preschool evaluation for Tennessee children ages 3 to 5 with visual impairment that occurs in June. The evaluation usually takes 2.5 days and is held on the campus of Tennessee School for the Blind. On-campus housing and meals are provided for the family during the evaluation. The purpose of the Summer Preschool Evaluation Program is designed as an arena assessment to assess your child's functional vision as well as additional screenings in the areas of speech and language, classroom skills, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological, and orientation and mobility. While the children are being assessed, the parents/guardians will participate in training sessions with topics related to children with visual impairments. Involvement in the program in no way obligates enrollment into the Tennessee School for the Blind. At the end of all the sessions, reports are written with recommendations for the families and school programs.

Hours

Hours vary.

Required Documents

The committee will need copies of the most recent educational information, i.e., eye doctor's report, functional vision assessment, orientation and mobility assessment (if applicable), a copy of the current IEP, and any other pertinent information necessary.

Eligibility

Kindergarten through 12th grade students in Tennessee with visual impairment that affects their ability to succeed in the learning environment. Summer preschool evaluation services on the TSB campus are available for Tennessee children ages 3 to 5 with visual impairment.

Fees

No fee.

Intake Procedure

Each Local Education Agency (LEA) Supervisor of Special Education may make a request for direct services at any time during the year. At that time the TSB Outreach Committee will review the request. A decision will be made regarding the type of educational services to be provided using the guidelines listed below. Due to limitations in staffing, some students who need services may be temporarily placed on a waiting list but will receive services as soon as possible. For the summer preschool evaluation program, request a referral form from Tennessee School for the Blind Outreach. The referral form needs to be signed by the special education supervisor or TEIS coordinator.

Geography Served

Contact

Telephone Numbers

Description

The Outreach Program of the Tennessee School for the Blind (TSB) offers a variety of services to children with visual impairments. These include both assessment and direct educational services. Assessment services include but are not limited to: functional vision assessments, orientation and mobility assessments, daily living skills assessments and technology assessments. These assessments are typically completed at the student's school. Direct educational services provided by a certified Teacher for Students with Visual Impairments and/or an Orientation and Mobility Specialist are also available on a limited basis. The school also offers a summer preschool evaluation for Tennessee children ages 3 to 5 with visual impairment that occurs in June. The evaluation usually takes 2.5 days and is held on the campus of Tennessee School for the Blind. On-campus housing and meals are provided for the family during the evaluation. The purpose of the Summer Preschool Evaluation Program is designed as an arena assessment to assess your child's functional vision as well as additional screenings in the areas of speech and language, classroom skills, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological, and orientation and mobility. While the children are being assessed, the parents/guardians will participate in training sessions with topics related to children with visual impairments. Involvement in the program in no way obligates enrollment into the Tennessee School for the Blind. At the end of all the sessions, reports are written with recommendations for the families and school programs.

Hours

Hours vary.

Required Documents

The committee will need copies of the most recent educational information, i.e., eye doctor's report, functional vision assessment, orientation and mobility assessment (if applicable), a copy of the current IEP, and any other pertinent information necessary.

Eligibility

Kindergarten through 12th grade students in Tennessee with visual impairment that affects their ability to succeed in the learning environment. Summer preschool evaluation services on the TSB campus are available for Tennessee children ages 3 to 5 with visual impairment.

Fees

No fee.

Intake Procedure

Each Local Education Agency (LEA) Supervisor of Special Education may make a request for direct services at any time during the year. At that time the TSB Outreach Committee will review the request. A decision will be made regarding the type of educational services to be provided using the guidelines listed below. Due to limitations in staffing, some students who need services may be temporarily placed on a waiting list but will receive services as soon as possible. For the summer preschool evaluation program, request a referral form from Tennessee School for the Blind Outreach. The referral form needs to be signed by the special education supervisor or TEIS coordinator.

Geography Served

Contact

Telephone Numbers

Description

Tennessee School for the Blind offers three weeks of summer camp every June for children with visual impairment. Campers in grades 2-6 will again attend week one. Campers going into grades 7-12 will have two opportunities: one week of sports camp and a middle and high school camp which operates concurrently with the orientation and mobility camp.

Hours

Camps are offered in June. Each camp lasts one week with student dropoff on Sunday. Students stay in on-campus cottages.

Eligibility

Tennessee students in grades 2 - 12 with visual impairment.

Fees

Call for details.

Intake Procedure

Applications are available on the website in February, and camps are first come, first-served.

Geography Served

Telephone Numbers