The Boarding Program at FSDB provides students the opportunity to live on campus during the week if their homes are too far away for them to travel to and from the school daily. Our students reside throughout the state of Florida, coming from as far south as Homestead and as far west as Panama City. We have a total of 14 dorms on campus.

Students in the Boarding Program at FSDB are provided with weekly instruction in Independent Living Skills. Our classes cover a wide range of topics to help students achieve greater independence as they move through their education. Each student has an Individual Residential Plan that is created with parent input. Goals are appropriate to the student’s age and developmental level. Dorm staff will provide instruction in small groups or individually to help student improve their skills. Students in elementary school may work on skills in self-care such as dressing appropriately or brushing teeth, minor housekeeping skills such as making the bed or loading the dishwasher, and social skills such as being respectful or how to get along with others.

Middle school students will continue to build on their earlier skills. They may delve more into housekeeping skills, learning how to wash and care for laundry or start learning how to make simple meals in the kitchen. Visually Impaired students are taught how to access the kitchen safely and what kinds of adaptive equipment can help make tasks easier for them.

Once in high school, students are given many opportunities to improve their skills. They start learning about budgeting and taking care of finances; they learn about healthy meals and engaging in healthy leisure activities. They also continue working on social skills, organizational skills, and anything else needed to help them transition into a successful adulthood. High school seniors are all given the chance to participate in our Independent Living Apartments. Students in this program prepare their own meals each day, take care of their own apartment areas in the dorm, and get the chance to practice their skills on a daily basis.