I was a student here for 9 years. Let me tell you that this place is THE definition of deception. They may try to make you think it's the greatest school ever with their pretty entrance and their giant campus, but nothing could be further from the truth. What your student will actually receive is a way below par education that the intention behind it is to put them in a position of hopefully mooching off the government (which it's government run, so what do you expect?), rather than teaching them about how to handle the real world. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. IF your student is a dorm student, prepare for them to be subjected to staff members who have no idea how to handle students with disabilities who enforce strict military type guidelines and will subject them to constant verbal abuse and if they're really unlucky, they'll even throw in some physical violence too. I even know about multiple sexual abuses that happened here on top of multiple suicide attempts amongst students and staff members. Seriously, I could write a whole book about what I saw there in my 9 years in this concentration camp. FSDB doesn't care about its students, just it's image, and I'm working to expose it for what it really is. read more

These people are careless, liars, and crooks. They are all about funding they can get for the students then don't even provide the accommodations. The teachers are not actually certified, and they will lie like it's no tomorrow. They have a focus on life skills and not education so if you don't want your child to get a diploma have at it. They understand your child being behind and disabled allows them to capitalize on additional funding to no end!! My child was told the school in our county was the problem and how we would see SO MUCH PROGRESS 3 years later my child is still in the same performance category she was before coming here. On top of not providing the materials these lying fools had the nerve to sit in an IEP meeting collectively claiming items purchased by the family on Amazon. Ellen the principal is so unprofessional doesn't respond to communication. When I called them out on the lies and pulled my receipts they had a blind girl who can't read sign a form saying they gave her the items like that actually holds weight lol what a way to abuse and manipulate. My daughter can't even read she said she was handed a form to print her name on it and the form states she received items yet I was verbally told they are school property. Beware find you a school that cares more about paychecks and begging for funding by making the children desperate failures. read more

This is an incredible school! (I worked in the Blind department for 2 years.) They really teach the students many life skills to allow them to look forward to an independent and fulfilling life. There is a lot of focus on abilities rather than impairments, and there is so much supportive community at the school and also in the town. Many skilled artists have graduated from FSDB because there is a great visual arts program (in the deaf department) and a wonderful music program (in the blind department). The kids from my classroom sang at a superbowl! AND, as you many know, Ray Charles also attended FSDB. There is a lot going on there! With many carnivals, field trips, plays, art sales, et cetera. One of my favorite experiences was a play. The actors were all students, of different grade levels ranging from HS to elementary students -- some deaf, some blind, and possibly a few that were both. The production was definitely child's theater, and even though I am blessed with hearing and vision, I could see how the production was created to be exciting for both deaf and blind audience members. It was amazing! You could follow the entire plot visually or audibly. The kids really loved it. If your child is deaf and/or blind, this is one of the BEST schools for them. Many families relocate nearby so that their child can come home in the evenings. For other families that aren't able to move closer to the town, many kids stay overnight. There is a (free) school bus that drives the kids on weekends who live a few hours away. And, as far as I'm aware, for kids who live extraordinarily far (but still in FL), there is a bus that lets them go home for about week or so out of the month. If you're weighing the options of sending your child here, versus tossing them in to a hearing school; I would strongly consider FSDB. At a "regular" school, D&B students are pretty much isolated and can only socialize among a small group of themselves. At FSDB, the students get to socialize with a ton of other students, and form the normal cliques and bonds that help develop important and healthy social skills. read more

My son graduated in 2007 from FSDB. He had attended school for the deaf in Texas, Alabama and Georgia. FSDB stands out as the best. He received a quality education and went on to college here in Fl and also in NY to get his degree. He now works at FSDB. As someone that has worked in Deaf Education for 17 years in various schools I highly recommend FSDB. The staff is great and children are safe. I have never heard anything bad about FSDB except from some disgruntled student that got in trouble and wanted to say anything bad that he could think of. A premium school for a premium education. A very high number of students go on to get a college degree. read more

School is dangerous for your kids!! DO NOT TAKE YOUR KIDS TO THIS SCHOOL PERIOD!! I'll tell you why and I was a student there before and not only that I have research lots bout it and the school runied my and my friends life and mostly the parents. I graduated there and I'm 24 years old now. I went to this school since I was 7th grade while I was there and graduated in 2013. Once you get there they give you a tour on this golf cart and this guy tell you this school is the best school ever and the best education and show I the dorm and all the nice good things but there not showing the bad things do your research more before going to school there liked the pro and cons. When you graduated there you will only get special diploma and only 10% of high school will get standard but the thing is the school say in the meeting when u first bring your kids there that they will do anything to give you the best thing to provide for you kids and to graduate with a good gpa. Bullshit bullshit talk don't listen to that. They make 43% of kid graduated with standard in all there school life when it been settle and that is very bad most other school graduated with standard and honor 80 to 90% but this school terrible and not to mention they just want your kids to be there so you can make lotta money that how things work they don't care bout your kids. IM TELLING YOU NOT FOR YOUR KIDS! They say that there school know lots bout respect cr3 blah blah. That meant respect cooperate and stuff. That how they make money to make there school look good. The teacher staff and everyone there that work there doesn't care bout your kids or anything they never help one except to make you think that. They tried to make your school the greatest but it not!! There an website that say FSDB is very dangerous for your kids and if you want to see the proof bout it you can email me. At panamashore25@gmail.com I'll show you all the review and bad the staff does bad things to student in the dorm there once was a girl she was bullied and bullied by the staff and teacher they threw her in a shower and she got burn to death, and died. I was in middle school I was getting sexual assault by on me if the counselor and he will get mad and send your kids to MHRC mental health rehab central saying your kids try to commit suicide or something to make you look terrible, so I try to keep my mouth shut bout it cuz I want to graduate with a standard and make my parent proud I never spoke this to my parent well thru all the year the school said I was getting standard and I was excited and ready to go to galluduet to start my biggest adventure and dream after I graduate for some reason my diploma said I had a special Diploma which made me upset, we called them and they was trying to ignore and avoid us in a very smart guy and I can talk and hear a little but hard of hearing, most teacher are a snob they will do anything to make you feel weak. I promise you you will regret it once you step foot on campus it may look beautiful don't let the look deceive you read more and explore more bout it. FSDB IS THE WORST SCHOOL EVER IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I can show proof of student that has been murder raped and died in fsdb and I have he proof. I been lied to fsdb so many time you just have no idea I have proof where they said I was getting standard in IEP meeting and they sent me special diploma where you can't go to college. If you have any question or want any more answer I'll share to you and share you more bout my experience ask me first!!! read more