FAQ

Our FAQs are categorized by topic. You can browse through the questions, or click the link below to take you to the topic you are interested in. Click "TOP" to come back to the top of the page

GENERAL - BLIND/VISUALLY IMPAIRED - DEAF/HARD OF HEARING - DORMS - TRANSPORTATION - OTHER

GENERAL

• Do I have to live in Colorado for my child to attend CSDB?
• Where is the school located?
• How much would it cost my family to enroll my student there?
• How old do you have to be to attend CSDB?
• My family member is a senior citizen and needs help with a phone they can use. Where can I get something for him/her?
• My family member doesn’t live in Colorado but needs help. Do you provide resources outside of Colorado?

BLIND/VISUALLY IMPAIRED

• I’m blind and need help but am too old for your programs. Where can I go for help?
• I need emotional support/counseling since recently becoming blind- where can I go for support?
• My friend/family member is blind. Is there a cell phone for them?
• I need to learn how to use a white cane- can I learn that at CSDB?
• I need to get something brailled, does CSDB do that?
• I have a child with blindness. What apps or websites do you recommend that he might enjoy or benefit from?

DEAF/HARD OF HEARING

• Does CSDB provide hearing aids or cochlear implants for students?
• Where can I learn sign language?
• Can my child get support with speech or other needs at CSDB?
• Does CSDB have football, basketball or other sports for students?
• My family member is deaf or hard or hearing and doesn't live in Colorado but needs help. Do you provide resources outside of Colorado?

DORMS

• How old does my child need to be before he or she can stay in the dorms or join the residential program?
• Does CSDB dorms provide linens?
• What does my child need to bring?
• Who will watch my child at night?
• What do you do if my child gets home sick, or I want to talk with my child?
• Can my child have their own snacks and where do they keep them?
• Is my child allowed to bring a cell phone, and/or personal device?
• Will my child be allowed to go off-campus alone?
• How much spending money should my child bring weekly?
• Who will hold my child’s money?
• Is there some kind of reward system in dorm?
• Will my child develop responsibilities and skills in the dorm?

TRANSPORTATION

OTHER

• I am trying to help someone who needs support and is deaf blind. Where can I go?

GENERAL

 Do I have to live in Colorado for my child to attend CSDB?
No, but out of state students must pay tuition.
The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) is a Colorado funded, state operating program, serving children from age birth – 21.  There is no tuition to attend CSDB for Colorado residents.  Children who qualify for special education services in the areas of hearing and/or vision loss, may be considered for enrollment.  To be eligible for placement, your child must meet enrollment guidelines as stated in CSDB policy #JF. 
The enrollment process is a coordinated effort between the parents/guardians and child, CSDB staff, and if requested, a representative from the child’s home school district (LEA).  Every parent/guardian seeking possible admission to CSDB must meet with the Director of Special Education, Ms. Kathy Emter, before enrollment can be offered.  Pre-enrollment procedures include a personal interview, review of current IEP and assessments, and a campus tour.
If your student is placed at CSDB, your local school district will also remain involved with your child.  The LEA will continue to be invited to attend all IEP meetings and any other significant decisions related to your child
(**POLICY REFERENCE JF and REGULATION JF-R)

Where is the school located?
CSDB is located in Colorado Springs, which is about 70 miles south of Denver. It is located just east of downtown Colorado Springs and is easy to find. Click here to see our location on a map, and directions from I-25.

Q: How much would it cost my family to enroll my student at CSDB?
A: The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) is a Colorado funded, state operating program, serving children from age birth – 21.  There is no tuition to attend CSDB for Colorado residents.  Children who qualify for special education services in the areas of hearing and/or vision loss, may be considered for enrollment.  To be eligible for placement, your child must meet enrollment guidelines as stated in CSDB policy #JF. 

The enrollment process is a coordinated effort between the parents/guardians and child, CSDB staff, and if requested, a representative from the child’s home school district (LEA).  Every parent/guardian seeking possible admission to CSDB must meet with the Director of Special Education, Ms. Kathy Emter, before enrollment can be offered.  Pre-enrollment procedures include a personal interview, review of current IEP and assessments, and a campus tour.

If your student is placed at CSDB, your local school district will also remain involved with your child.  The LEA will continue to be invited to attend all IEP meetings and any other significant decisions related to your child
(**POLICY REFERENCE JF and REGULATION JF-R)

Q: How old do you have to be to attend CSDB?
A: The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) is a Colorado funded, state operating program, serving children from age birth – 21.  There is no tuition to attend CSDB for Colorado residents.  Children who qualify for special education services in the areas of hearing and/or vision loss, may be considered for enrollment.  To be eligible for placement, your child must meet enrollment guidelines as stated in CSDB policy #JF. 

The enrollment process is a coordinated effort between the parents/guardians and child, CSDB staff, and if requested, a representative from the child’s home school district (LEA).  Every parent/guardian seeking possible admission to CSDB must meet with the Director of Special Education, Ms. Kathy Emter, before enrollment can be offered.  Pre-enrollment procedures include a personal interview, review of current IEP and assessments, and a campus tour.

If your student is placed at CSDB, your local school district will also remain involved with your child.  The LEA will continue to be invited to attend all IEP meetings and any other significant decisions related to your child.
(**POLICY REFERENCE JF and REGULATION JF-R)

TOP

Q: I’m blind and need help but am too old for your programs. Where can I go for help?
A: The Colorado Center for the Blind and iSight Rehab are excellent resources for children and adults. The listed services are not associated with CSDB and are provided to help those looking for help when blind.
Below is the contact information:

Colorado Center for the Blind
2233 West Shepperd Avenue
Littleton, CO 80120
(303) 778-1130
Email: ccb@cocenter.org
Web: www.cocenter.org

iSightRehab
Tim Richard
719-229-8000 (Colorado Springs)
timrichard@isightrehab.com
https://isightrehab.com/

Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
633 17th Street, Suite 1501
Denver, CO 
https;//www.dvr.colorado.gov
CDLE_voc.rehab@state.co.us

TOP

Q: I need emotional support/counseling since recently becoming blind- where can I go for support?
A: If you are in need of resources for social, emotional, or counseling support or have recently become blind and are in need of resources, please send an email to cjohnson@csdb.org and you will be contacted directly.

Q: My family member is a senior citizen and needs help with a phone they can use. Where can I get something for him/her?
A: The below two resources are online websites that allow you to purchase assistive technology devices. The websites divides their resources by need: Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Blind/Low Vision, etc..

Maxi AIDS
www.maxiaids.com
42 Executive Blvd.
Farmington, NY 11735
For Information: (631) 752-0521
To Order: (800) 522-6294

Learning Sight and Sound
www.lssproducts.com
145 River Rock Drive
Buffalo, NY 14207
(800) 468-4789
(716) 348-3500

TOP

Q: My friend/family member is blind. Is there a cell phone for them?
A: Many smart phones/mobile devices now have screen reader capabilities. A screen reader is a tool that will speak the text on the screen audibly.

Resources:
Apple devices:
Vision Accessibility - iPhone – Apple
https://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/vision/

Excellent videos:
Listen with VoiceOver Series | Hadley
https://hadley.edu/workshops/listen-with-voiceover-series

Android devices:
Get started on Android with TalkBack - Android Accessibility Help: https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6283677?hl=en

Turn on TalkBack - Android Accessibility Help: https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6007100?hl=en

Excellent videos:
Listen with TalkBack Series | Hadley https://hadley.edu/workshops/listen-with-talkback-series
Side Note: For iPhones- it is recommended to go to an Apple Store for assistance rather than going to the service provider.

TOP

Q: I need to learn how to use a white cane- can I learn it at CSDB?
A: For students that are enrolled at CSDB, we do provide navigation training and assistance  (Orientation and Mobility - O&M) training for enrolled students. If you, or someone you know, needs to learn how to use a white cane but are not enrolled at CSDB, you can use the contacts below. The listed services are not associated with CSDB and are provided to help those looking for help with learning how to navigate when blind.

iSightRehab 
Tim Richard
719-229-8000
timrichard@isightrehab.com
https://isightrehab.com/

Colorado Center for the Blind
2233 West Shepperd Avenue
Littleton, CO 80120
(303) 778-1130
Email: ccb@cocenter.org
Web: www.cocenter.org

TOP

Q: I need to get something brailled, does CSDB do that?

A: CIMC only provides braille for Colorado public school students aged birth to 21 who are registered with CIMC. The services listed below are not associated with CIMS but are provided to help those looking for brailling services. 

The BrailleChic Email: braillechic@hotmail.com Phone: 719-351-4687

Multimedia Transcription Services Email: mts@hipcil.org Phone: 201-996-9100 ext 26

National Braille Press Nina Scibelli nscibelli@nbp.org Phone: 617-425-2439

Prose and Cons Braille Julie Erikson proseandconsbraille@nebraska.gov

TOP

Q: My blind/visually impaired family member doesn’t live in Colorado but needs help. Do you provide resources outside of Colorado?
A: Although CSDB provides services and resources statewide, many resources outside of the state of Colorado from CSDB are only available via online access (YouTube, www.csdb.org , etc). Please check the list below for some resources that might assist you or your family member.

TOP

TOP

Q: I am trying to help some-one who needs Deaf/Blind support. Where can I go?

A:below are some websites that might be of help
Perkins School for the Blind-eLearning www.perkinselearning.org/
American Association of the Deaf Blind www.aadb.org
Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults www.hknc.org
National Family Association for Deaf-Blind http://nfadb.org
National Center on  Deaf-Blindness https://nationaldb.org
National Association of the Deaf (NAD) www.nad.org

TOP

I have a child with blindness. What apps or websites do you recommend that he might enjoy or benefit from?
Since sites and apps change rapidly, it would be most effective if you search online for terms such as: blind-child, 4 year old (or whatever age your child is), learning app, online game, android/apple app. If you have a specific topic you would like to search for you could add terms like: counting, reading, phonics, geography. If I had a blind child who was 8 years old and I wanted to find something that helps them play a recreational game I could search: game "blind child" "8 years old" "apple "app

TOP

DEAF/HARD OF HEARING

Does CSDB provide hearing aids or cochlear implants for students?
CSDB does not provide hearing aids or cochlear implants, but does have an audiologist on campus to work with students and staff. Click this link for more detail about audiology services.

Where can I learn sign language?
The CSDB Outreach program has immersion programs for families and professionals. These are week long programs and the groups are housed on the CSDB campus. These are programs that are focused on the needs of the participants and are offered about once per year in the summer. The department also provided ASL instructional videos on the CSDB youtube channel. Classes for community members are 8 weeks long, and are offered on campus throughout the year. For more details about community ASL classes click here.

What kind of support will my child get at CSDB in addition to education (physical therapy, speech, counseling, etc.)?
If you child is enrolled at CSDB, she will have an IEP. During the IEP meeting your child's needs will be discussed by you and the team, and all support services will be scheduled as determined at this meeting. CSDB has a department that offers many student services; audiology, speech and language, physical therapy and many others. To learn more about student services, click this link.

Does CSDB provide speech/spoken language development?
Yes – CSDB is a bilingual school, supporting students in achievement in both American Sign Language and English.  As appropriate, students are given opportunities and support to maintain and/or develop their spoken language skills.

Does CSDB have football, basketball or other sports for students? 
Yes, CSDB offers middle and high school football, basketball, wresting, volleyball, and track, as well as special Olympics (bowling, basketball and track), and goalball as competitive sports for our students, both in the school for the deaf and the school for the blind. We also offer peewee sports for elementary students in a non-competitive setting.

My deaf child is the first deaf person I have ever met in my life. Will my child have a normal life?
Yes!  Your child can have a good relationship with you and other family members, obtain a good education and later a good job, and lead a rich, fulfilling, contributing life.  People who are deaf are found in a wide array of professions, such as law, medicine, drama, research, education, computer programming, accounting, and entrepreneurial enterprises.  People who are deaf are found in all sorts of interesting activities, including travel, writing, sports, religious activities, social clubs and more.  But your child’s success won’t happen without your involvement and support.

Some things you should do are:

• Learn to communicate with your child as well as you can.
• Support literacy through reading to your child and nurturing your child’s writing when the time is appropriate.
• Participate in organizations that provide support and information to parents.
• Obtain information about child development, language learning, and children with hearing loss.
• Get to know other parents of deaf and hard of hearing children and deaf and hard of hearing adults in your community.

My Deaf/hard of hearing family member doesn’t live in Colorado but needs help. Do you provide resources outside of Colorado? 
Although CSDB provides services and resources statewide, many resources outside of the state of Colorado from CSDB are only available via online access (YouTube, www.csdb.org , etc). Please check the list below for some resources that might assist you or your family member.

DORMS

To see more about the Residential Program at CSDB, please check out the pages on our website.

1- How old does my child need to be before he or she can stay in the dorms or join the residential program?
Any school-aged child who is enrolled at CSDB and lives more than 30 miles from campus may be eligible for the residential program, provided the student meets the eligibility criteria to enroll as a student.

2- Does CSDB dorms provide linens?
We provide sheets, blankets, and towels.  If your child wish to bring their own sheets, towels, they are expected to wash them weekly in the washer and dryer provided in their dorm unit.
 
3- What does my child need to bring?
Each student is required to bring sufficient clothes for 6 days of school (refer to the respective Residential Supervisor for specifics), shoes, a pillow, clothing hangers, and all their personal care materials, etc.  Your child may bring anything else to make room home-like feeling and comfortable such as posters, family photos, etc.
 
4- Who will watch my child at night?
Each dorm program has a minimum of one dorm supervisor working in the evening and overnight. The staff is required to stay awake throughout the night making 15-minute checks on the students.  We have night supervisors who make rounds throughout the night to the various dorms to assist local staff if needed.
 
5- What do you do if my child gets homesick, or I want to talk with my child?
Our dorms are equipped with phones or video phones for student use.  If a student becomes home sick, we encourage them to contact their parents.  We will also communicate with the school principal, student advocate or counselors to be aware of the students’ feelings. We make calls at least once a week to families to let them know how their student is doing and to check transportation for the week.
 
6- Can my child have their own snacks and where do they keep them?
Snacks are provided for our students through our cafeteria in the dorms.  It is important to note that food provided our students must meet the governments regulations for nutrition.  However, students are permitted to bring their own snacks if they so choose.  We recommend that students that bring snacks also bring a container to store their snacks.  Snacks must also be kept in their dorm kitchen and not in the student’s bedroom.
 
7- Is my child allowed to bring a cell phone, and/or personal device?
Yes, your child may bring cell phone and/or personal device but they must follow the CSDB guidelines for their use.  They may be used after school up until bedtime.  It is important that your child inform staff of the valuable items they bring so that they can be noted in the student’s file.  CSDB is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
 
8- Will my child be allowed to go off-campus alone?
Students in select programs can go off-campus. All students are supervised by staff during any activities, on or off campus. High School students are expected to be more independent and can earn the privilege of going off-campus (during specific times) through our level system and P.L.U.S. program. The Bridges to Life program, for our students up to the age of 21, allows off-campus trips as well. 
 
9- How much spending money should my child bring weekly?
The amount of spending money depends on activities/events happening during the week.  Parents will be notified of any special events involving extra spending money.  However, you may send a weekly allowance if you would like.
 
10- Who will hold my child’s money?
Student may have money deposited in their school account.  You may send money directly to your child’s account.  Your child may request money when needed from their account.  It would be best if your child does not carry large amounts of money.  CSDB is not responsible for any misplaced or stolen funds. Their dorm unit supervisor can keep up to $20 in the dorm safe for each student. It is highly encouraged that your student has a wallet or purse to carry their money.
 
11- Is there some kind of reward system in dorm?
Yes, we have what is called a P.R.I.D.E. ticket system and a level system in the dorms.  The level program enables middle school and high school students to earn privileges by demonstrating positive attitudes as well as taking responsibility of their behavior by following established expectations and rules. The P.R.I.D.E. ticket system allows students to earn tickets that can be used for snacks or prizes or to go on a fun outing. If you want more information about the system please call or text 719-726-0108 to reach the Student Life department.
 
12- Will my child develop responsibilities and skills in the dorm?
Yes, we do offer independent living skills, COMPLETE (Creative Arts, Occupational, Multi-cultural, Physical Activity, Leisure, Emotional, Teamwork, and Environment ) for K-12th grade students, and POWERFUL (Personal, Occupational, Wellness, Entertainment, Resources, Finances, Unity, and Living Space) for our post-high school program through the activities on our monthly dorm calendars. COMPLETE and POWERFUL are specific programs that build activities into our schedules to help give students a well-rounded experience in the dorms and to help them prepare for an independent life outside of school.