MISSION

The Georgia Academy for the Blind endeavors to provide quality education services to Georgia’s students who have visual impairments or multiple disabilities in order to empower them to achieve their highest level of independence.

BELIEFS

As professional educators of students with visual impairments as well as students with multiple disabilities, the Georgia Academy for the Blind supports the following beliefs:

·   Professional educators, consultants, and support personnel should be knowledgeable about the unique educational needs of students with visual impairments or multiple disabilities.

·   Collaboration among public and private agencies and organizations is essential in order to provide appropriate services and resources for students with disabilities and their families.

·   Quality assessment of students with visual or multiple disabilities should be an ongoing, individualized process accomplished by professionals knowledgeable in the effects of those disabilities on learning.  Meaningful assessments require input from parents as well as educators.

·   An individualized, expanded core curriculum is crucial for students with visual impairments as well as for those with multiple disabilities.  Curricular area emphasize compensatory academics, literacy, orientation and mobility, technology, career education, social interaction, recreation and leisure, independent living, sensory efficiency, and other disability-specific skills.

·   Parents and educators must collaborate in developing Individualized Educational Programs based on the student’s identified educational and transitional needs and in making placement recommendations.

·   Students must feel safe, physically as well as emotionally, in order to learn.

·   Students should have opportunities to interact with their non-disabled peers.

·   Students with disabilities should be provided with instructional materials in an appropriate medium on timeline commensurate with that of their non-disabled peers.

·   The Academy should be a resource regarding visual impairments, and should share appropriate information with individuals seeking assistance, regardless of their age or eligibility for direct services from the Academy.