With spring break coming up, a spate of graduations won’t be far behind, and with that, a new wave of job seekers.
For many Deaf and Blind students, these milestones have often been met with difficulties. But across the region, there are shining examples of education and career paths that help open many doors.
Specialized institutions and partnerships with companies provide meaningful opportunities for students who are deaf and blind, and the skills they need to succeed in both academic and professional settings.
One such institution is the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB), with its main campus in St. Augustine. It has been part of the community since 1885.
“We are the only school of our kind in the state of Florida that serves only students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired and deafblind,” said FSBD President Tracie C. Snow.
Snow has been at the school for 30 years, starting as a classroom teacher.
“We serve about 1,700 children across the state, and on our campus, we have a little over 500.” Some students board overnight at the main campus.
FSDB is a public school that serves students ages 3 to 22 with an Early Learning Center and elementary, middle and high school programs. It is fully accredited and tuition-free.
The school’s approach to educating this population of students addresses the needs of the ‘whole child.’ “It’s not just about the academic day in the classroom, but we’re really working on ensuring that our students have opportunities to engage in athletics, performing arts, different clubs, recreation and career experiences,” Snow said.
Opportunities extend into the community, with the support of partners who employ FSDB students and graduates.
“For our students who live locally, there’s a smoother transition from when they’re in the work program to seeking employment after graduation or on weekends during the holidays.” said Snow.
“For our students who live outside of our area, who are in the boarding program, that’s a little bit more challenging. However, we do have students who may work for Publix as their work experience—and Publix is all over the state of Florida. That’s an easy transition,” Snow said.
FSDB students also have dual enrollment opportunities with First Coast Technical College.
Read the rest of the story written by Patrick Evans-Hylton on the Evolve website.