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New York State School for the Blind

New York State School for the Blind

Admissions

Admittance Criteria

The Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) determines student recommendations for admission to the New York State School for the Blind (NYSSB). The MDT uses the following criteria in its decision:

  1. The student is legally blind;
  2. The student is school-age (5 – 21 years of age); and
  3. The student has additional disabilities which could include:
    • Autism;
    • Deaf-Blindness;
    • Deafness;
    • Emotional Disturbance;
    • Hearing Impairment;
    • Intellectual Disability;
    • Multiple Disabilities;
    • Orthopedic Impairment;
    • Other Health Impairment;
    • Specific Learning Disability;
    • Speech or Language Impairment; and/or
    • Traumatic Brain Injury.
Program Options

There are two program options at the NYSSB. The MDT determines the least restrictive placement option for the student based on the following criteria:

Day Program

  • Student lives locally or in a surrounding school district and daily transportation takes less than one hour each way (50 miles);
  • Daily transportation does not compromise health; and
  • Student can accomplish IEP goals in day program.

Four and Five-day Residential

  • Daily travel would compromise health or the student lives too far to travel daily; 
  • Student requires consistency of program beyond the educational day to meet IEP goals;
  • Student requires multiple opportunities to practice skills beyond what could be accomplished in the day program;
  • And/or student requires the availability of a peer group with similar vision challenges.
How to Apply

How Do I Apply?

A parent, legal guardian, or a committee on special education (CSE) chairperson completes the application.

Application/Instructions – English Version

Application/Instructions – Spanish Version

New York State Education Department
Special Education Quality Assurance
Non-district Unit, Room 309 EB
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234
Attn: State-operated PHC-10 application
Fax: 518-473-5769

 
 
Intake Process

Bethany Burgess, Intake Coordinator
Phone: 1-877-NYSSFTB (1-877-697-7382), ext. 214
bethany.burgess@nysed.gov

  1. The Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA) Nondistrict Unit sends a letter to the parent approving an evaluation at the NYSSB.
  2. The intake coordinator calls the parent to schedule an intake evaluation within one week of receipt of the application materials and the letter of approval from the Regional Associate.
  3. A request for consent for the NYSSB to conduct evaluations, a request for release of information, and an explanation of due process procedures is sent to the parent. A copy is sent to the school district of residence.
  4. The NYSSB requests education records from the school district of residence.
  5. A consent form to release Information, perform specific evaluations, etc., is sent to the parents and the school district of residence.
  6. The educational evaluator conducts an on-site visit to the student's current education placement.
  7. The parent(s) and student participate in an intake evaluation at the NYSSB.  A parent apartment room is available to the family upon request.
  8. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting is scheduled and held to discuss the results of the evaluation and to determine the appropriate, least restrictive environment for the student's education.
Approval Process
  1. Summary of the evaluations and recommendations from the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) are forwarded to the NYSSB superintendent for consideration. If the superintendent agrees with the MDT recommendation, a letter, along with the evaluations and recommendations, is forwarded to the parent, the school district, and the regional associate.
  2. If the MDT or the superintendent does not recommend appointment of the student to the NYSSB, the parent may appeal through procedural due process.
  3. The Regional Associate reviews the evaluations and the recommendations and approves/disapproves the appointment to NYSSB. If the Regional Associate agrees that NYSSB can provide an appropriate program and is the least restrictive environment for the child, a letter approving the appointment of the child to NYSSB is sent to the parent and the school district. If the Regional Associate disagrees with the recommendation for appointment, the parent may appeal through procedural due process.