What if my child gets homesick at school?
It's normal for children to miss their families. Our dormitory and teaching staff are experienced and concerned with your child's well-being. When children are homesick, they can call their family via phone, videophone or TDD. Usually, children’s schedules are full, and busy children are less likely to feel homesick. They have discovered an exciting new world where they interact on an equal footing with their peers, and this is just about the best cure for homesickness. Often parents suffer as much or more from homesickness as their children; we encourage you to be involved in your child's school life as much as possible.
Can my child live at home and attend AIDB schools?
Yes, we have a day school option. Often students will prefer to live in the dorms, especially as they grow older. Dorm students enjoy an extensive recreational program in addition to the clubs, athletic programs and leadership opportunities scheduled for after school hours.
How often can children come home from school?
Even with all this activity, there is no substitute for family. Every third weekend, a fleet of buses leave AIDB to take students home for a long three-day weekend throughout Alabama. The bus trips home are free, just like tuition, room and board. Weekly bus routes give students in Montgomery, Huntsville and Birmingham an option for going home each Friday and a number of daily bus routes operate within a 45-mile-radius of Talladega. The Schools maintain close ties with the families of our students, too, with calendars, reports and grades sent home regularly; videoconferencing available from eight different Regional Centers around the state; and easy access to teachers and staff through the telephone and Internet.
How often can I visit my child?
Parents may visit their children anytime, preferably after school hours.
What curriculum do your schools use?
Alabama School for the Blind (ASB) and Alabama School for the Deaf (ASD) follow the Alabama State Department of Education curriculum guidelines. They may also add enrichment programs. The Helen Keller School of Alabama (HKS), for children with multiple disabilities, designs a program specifically for each child using the State Department of Education's Extended Standards. All our students have standards-based IEPs (Individual Education Plans) which are developed with input from teaching staff, parents, and sometimes the students themselves.
The Alabama School for the Blind (ASB), Alabama School for the Deaf (ASD) and Helen Keller School of Alabama (HKS) are all fully accredited by AdvancED/Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. ASD is also accredited by the Conference of Educational Administrators Serving the Deaf.
Please read more about our individual schools serving children, Preschool-12th grade: Alabama School for the Blind (ASB), Alabama School for the Deaf (ASD) and Helen Keller School of Alabama (HKS).