Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind - Do More. Be More. Achieve More.

Please join us in welcoming Joseph Seppala to FSDB!

Joseph is one of our groundskeepers, dedicated to keeping our campus clean and beautiful. He is excited about his role as a groundskeeper, as it is one of his favorite positions.

A fun fact about Joseph is that he loves playing various sports and enjoys watching the sunrise every morning while he works.

As Joseph says, "If you fail at the next step, try a new approach and reach out for your accomplishments to pursue your true dreams."

We are thrilled to have you with us at FSDB, Joseph!

#ThisIsFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongAtFSDB

Today’s theme was Fairytale and Thespian Day, and it was a fantastic celebration! Students showed off their creativity by dressing up as characters from various time periods and beloved Disney classics. It was a vibrant display of imagination and spirit!'

The entire blind high school had the opportunity to participate in a series of challenges as grade-level teams to complete a quest. Once each class completed all their challenges, the final event was organized —a tug-of-war battle.

#FSDBHomecoming2025 #FSDBHomecoming #Homecoming2025

In promotional enterprises, students are working on their business presentations, including creating logos, business cards, advertisements, and social media posts. They are also researching potential annual earnings for similar businesses. In production, they are working on senior posters, athletic shirts, and Clerc Tournament shirts.

#FSDBCTETuesdays

Jenny Enache, O&M Specialist for Blind K-8, shares her favorite memory from her time at FSDB so far:

"A few years ago, we held a White Cane Day parade that wound its way across the entire campus. As one of the students approached Pope Hall, the crowd erupted in cheers—so loud and full of joy! In that moment, one of our students pulled out his phone and called his mom. With excitement in his voice, he said, “Mom, they’re cheering for my independence!” It was incredibly moving to hear him share that realization, recognizing that the celebration was about honoring each student’s journey toward independence."

#FSDBMemoryMondays

Blind Homecoming has arrived, featuring a captivating Renaissance theme!

Students and staff dazzled in Medieval Glam attire, reminiscent of a regal court, creating a festive atmosphere filled with energy and history.

#Homecoming2025 #FSDBHomecoming2025 #Renaissance #MedievalGlam

Our SOAR students in Maddy Brady’s Fundamentals of Research class have been hard at work giving peer feedback on paragraphs about public figures they admire.

They’ve been focusing on writing for coherence; testing out different paragraph structures and finding the best word choices to make their ideas flow smoothly. Today they were partner up randomly by using a Wheel of Names (that way they always get fresh perspectives) and gave feedback on their application paragraphs from yesterday’s lesson. 

And the best part? One student, Tyler, even got to give Maddy feedback on her own modeling paragraph! 💬✏️

#FSDBSOARSaturdays

What's one thing that makes FSDB feel like home to you?

#FSDBQuestionOfTheWeekFridays

Welcome, Lascelles Williams, to FSDB!

Lascelles is one of our newest teachers at the Blind High School, where he teaches mathematics.

Before joining FSDB, he taught mathematics and IT in Jamaica and the Polk County School District.

As someone who is blind, Lascelles is passionate about inspiring blind and visually impaired students to learn mathematics.

Here are some fun facts about Lascelles: he is from Runaway Bay, Jamaica, and loves EPL soccer.

Lascelles shares, "I would like people to see our abilities before our disabilities."

We are so happy to have you here with us at FSDB!
#ThisIsFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongAtFSDB

🎉 October is Blindness Awareness Month! 🎉
This week, I’m thrilled to spotlight our incredible students and the programs that support them here at FSDB. And of course, I had help crafting this post—from the very students we’re celebrating!
 
📸 In the first photo, I’m standing in my office with a group of students, all of us proudly wearing baseball caps that say “I CAN” in both print and braille, alongside a white cane. I’m honored to wear this new cap—along with all the other “hats” I wear as President—and even more honored by the message it represents.
 
When I asked the students what they wanted to share, Leonel offered this powerful reflection:

"Las personas deben enfocarse en lo que podemos hacer. No importa si tenemos un impedimento visual o físico, nosotros podemos hacer deportes, ir a la universidad, trabajar y un sinnúmero de cosas más. Estas imágenes sirven de ejemplo de las cosas que nosotros podemos lograr sin importar que tengamos un impedimento visual."

"People should focus on what we can do. It does not matter if we have a visual or physical impairment—we can do sports, go to college, work, and countless other things. These images serve as an example of what we can achieve even though we have a visual impairment."

🏃‍♂️ In the next photo from our recent Cross Country meet, guide runners helped students from visiting teams experience running without sight—using blindfolds and sighted guides. It was an incredible and memorable experience for all involved.

🦯 The final photo shows a familiar and inspiring sight on our campus: our amazing Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialists working with a student. In this lesson, a student was learning to interpret landmarks and navigate areas with shadows—challenging spaces for those relying on functional vision. He’s working toward earning his mobility pass to travel off campus independently.
 
And to close, a student shared this spontaneous quote that says it all:
“Life can feel challenging as if it’s a game, but luckily, there’s mobility staff to teach you how to use your cane.”
 
As Blindness Awareness Month comes to a close, let’s remember:
We can do it all. We can celebrate. We can navigate a world that doesn’t revolve around sight.  After we learn and grow, we do it with skill, confidence, and pride.
 
#BlindnessAwarenessMonth #FSDBPride #ICAN #OrientationAndMobility #StudentVoices #InclusionMatters #WhiteCaneDay #THISisFSDB #ThePrezSnowPost

Welcome, Jason Marlow, our new Executive Director of Technology Services!

Before joining FSDB, Jason worked as a network engineer. He is excited to learn more about the technology and the people involved in his new role.

A fun fact about Jason is that he enjoys playing trivia.

Welcome aboard, Jason!
#ThisIsFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongAtFSDB

Welcome, Tara Sloan, to FSDB!

Tara will be working as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist.

Before joining FSDB, she was an independent contractor as a teacher for the visually impaired.

Tara shared, "This truly feels like a dream come true after completing my internship at FSDB, where the students, staff, and supportive community deeply inspired me. I am incredibly excited to join the team and cannot wait to contribute to the mission of empowering students with the skills they need to navigate the world with confidence and independence."

Tara envisions a perfect day spent relaxing with her family by the water.

We are thrilled to have you as part of our FSDB family!
#ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam

Please join us in welcoming Goran Aksentiev to FSDB!

Goran was previously an English Language and Literature Teacher and an ESOL Teacher in North Macedonia. He is now an Associate Teacher at the Blind High School.

Goran is excited to support students on their learning journey, develop as an educator, and be a part of our unique and inspiring school community.

A fun fact about Goran is that he hopes to own a board game café one day.

We are thrilled to have you with us at FSDB, Goran!

#ThisIsFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongAtFSDB

Our students enjoyed the Jr. NAD Conference at the New Mexico School for the Deaf! They learned how to unleash their potential and become leaders who can positively impact our school community.

During the trip, they enjoyed hiking, participated in various leadership workshops, and worked on special projects such as video creation, ASL entertainment, and competitions. It was truly an inspiring and memorable experience for them.

#FSDBAfterSchoolWednesdays
 

Students in the Career Experience course develop essential employability skills and have the opportunity to apply them in a variety of on-campus roles.

Our students have gained hands-on experience in positions such as:
- Food Service Worker
- Front Office Assistant
- Print Shop Associate
- Teacher Assistant
- PE Assistant
…and more!

#FSDBCTETuesdays

Alvina LaPlante, Director of Interpreter Services, shares her favorite memory during her time at FSDB so far:

"A flood of many events and moments come to mind when asked of my favorite memory. I've had some unique, fun, and challenging interpreting assignments which require me to learn and expand my own knowledge about various topics - one of my favorites has been the opportunities I've had while interpreting in the FSDB Museum. The rich history of FSDB from 1885 until now can't be explored in a day - each time I'm in the museum, I learn more and more. It's even more interesting to me since I have family members who attended and/or graduated from FSDB. A fun fact about me: my parents met as FSDB students while in high school (back in 1970/1971). Yes, it's true. If not for FSDB, I wouldn't exist!"

#FSDBMemoryMonday