Audiology

The Audiology Department provides a full range of audiological services to our students, including hearing evaluation and hearing aid fitting and repair.  The Audiology Department also works with AIDB’s schools as well as schools around the state to recommend appropriate classroom sound field systems and personal FM systems.

Nursing

The Health Center is open and staffed by registered and licensed practical nurses 24 hours a day, seven days a week when school is in session. The health center is equipped to handle 17 in-patients with a physician or making rounds every morning and always on call for emergencies. Our nursing staff is in constant contact with parents/guardians to update them on the condition of their child and possible treatment options. The nursing staff also dispenses medicine prescribed by the students’ doctor at home and can assist with yearly Medicaid physicals. Also as a component of the primary care unit, our residential students receive dental services. Our fully-functional dental office provides cleanings, extractions and other services.  

Low Vision

Our low vision department offers clinics, assessments and technical assistance, including getting prescriptions for eyeglasses filled. The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry sends advanced students to conduct clinics at regularly scheduled times. They confer with their supervising optometrists to develop vision management plans for each student. A digital video imaging system allows the transmission of eye images directly to the office of consulting physicians, so students don't even have to leave campus. We also have a consulting ophthalmologist who comes three times a year in conjunction with UAB School of Optometry to follow those students with glaucoma.

The UAB School of Optometry has provided AIDB with the most up-to-date equipment available, and their expertise is unmatched by any other institution in the region. Click here for more information about UAB School of Optometry.

Health and Clinical Services is concerned with the total health of our students, not just their hearing and vision. That’s why if necessary, we provide students with occupational therapy, physical therapy and access to trained psychologists and counselors.

Psychology

The Psychology Department is available to provide counseling for students. The Psychology Department offers both group and individual counseling services. Our therapists and counselors work hand-in-hand with teachers, job coaches, vocational rehabilitation staff and families to find the approach that best accommodates a child’s needs. The Psychology Department helps students deal with numerous issues including; conflict resolution, independent living and behavorial issues.

Occupational and Physical Therapy         

Our occupational therapist  help students with basic school occupations such as; getting dressed, sitting at a table to eat, navigating through buildings and sitting upright to copying notes.

AIDB believes in helping students live the most independent life as possible, regardless of disability. With that in mind our Occupational Therapy Department offers feeding class for students who have difficulty feeding themselves. These classes teach students how to feed themselves without the aid of a teacher, nurse or caregiver.

Our physical therapist and physical therapy assistants help students develop general strength and endurance. Our therapists use many different techniques and tools to help our students develop these skills including; hippotherapy in our Marianna Greene Henry Special Equestrian Center. Through hippotherapy children learn better balance and posture, as well as strengthen back, neck and leg muscles.  The equestrian center operates under the guidelines set by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association.

Located on the campus of the Helen Keller School, the Hackney Play Therapy Center is also a center for smiles and laughter. It is notable for its brightly colored walls, soft padding on the floors, cheerful blue, purple, and pink equipment. But this is no ordinary physical therapy equipment. There are slides and tunnels, an ocean of plastic balls to sift and wade through -- a playground with very serious purpose.Children learn different ways of moving through the play system; they learn directionality: up, down, sideways, left, right. They also learn listening skills, either verbal or through signing. And every minute spent in play is time spent strengthening muscles.