
Why Choose VSDB for Your Student?
VSDB provides an integrated, holistic approach to education and personal development with a full array of services and programs that are simply not available at any other school in Virginia. Students grow in every aspect, do to expand capabilities and gain confidence, and become capable adults who succeed in post-secondary education, in the workforce, and as citizens in their communities.
Expert teaching
VSDB’s faculty are simply the best — highly qualified and caring, they dedicate their careers to teaching students with hearing and vision impairments.
- Collectively, our faculty has more than 250 years of experience in teaching children who are blind, who have vision impairments, who are deaf, who are hard of hearing, who are deafblind, or blind or deaf with other disabilities. Their expertise is exceptional!
- The average class size is about five to seven students, so all children receive the individual attention they need and deserve.
Exceptional outcomes
VSDB prepares students for success in whatever comes next for them. For high school students and post-high school students who have participated in transition services, that may mean embarking on a career, independent living in the community, and/or post-secondary education. For younger children who attend preschool at VSDB, that may mean being ready to attend a school closer to home within a year or two. Whatever age students are when they come to VSDB, we’ll help them reach their best at what’s next.
Hands-on learning
Interactive, experiential learning builds skills, knowledge, and confidence that translate into lifelong success — in post-secondary education, in the workforce, and in their communities.
Community of peers
Life and career skills
Day or residential options
Like residential students, day students have complete access to VSDB’s educational programs and are encouraged to participate in social activities, extracurricular opportunities, outings, athletics, clubs, and service. For some students, distance from home or other factors may make living on campus during the week a better option. For others, living at home while participating in classes and activities on campus is the best arrangement. In either case, students benefit from being fully engaged at school and participating in age- and developmentally-appropriate activities. Weekends at home means students have time with their families, too, to feel the support and love they need to prosper and grow.
No cost to families
Transportation provided
Transition services that are available nowhere else
VSDB provides an array of transition services to prepare students for life after graduation including fully accessible programs that are unique to Virginia. These include but are not limited to
- Supported academic experiences online and in the post-secondary setting
- On and off campus work experiences through the Achieve Work Experience Program
- VSDB Independent Living Apartments Program provides a supervised independent living program
- CROPS Horticulture and Agriculture Program occurs on Virginia’s largest educational urban farm, right on our campus
- The 18+ Residential Program
Safe, Fully Accessible Campus
Adult role models
Students enjoy the opportunity to interact with adults who are successful and independent in their own communities and can share valuable insight and experiences with students. For many students, VSDB provides their first opportunity to interact with adults who share the same day-to-day real-world experiences and challenges.
Assistive technologies
We stay up-to-date on what assistive technologies are available to support people who are blind, hearing impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or deaf or blind with other disabilities. We know accessibility and we know technology, so we ensure that our students are exposed to and instructed in the most current and most appropriate technology to meet their needs.