Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Foundation Inc

 AIDB – It’s not just business. It’s personal.     Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB), the education continuum begins at birth and lasts a lifetime. AIDB is uniquely known as the world’s most comprehensive education and service program for children and adults of all ages with hearing and vision loss. We serve more than 20,500 individuals each year in all 67 counties of the state, operating 5 campuses in Talladega and a network of Regional Centers located in Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Montgomery, Mobile, Talladega, Tuscaloosa and Tuscumbia.

The Alabama School for the Blind, Alabama School for the Deaf, and Helen Keller School of Alabama provide traditional and non-traditional academic instruction and life preparation for children ages 3 to 21 in residential & day environments, featuring strong academics, assistive technology and championship athletics. All 3 schools have earned AdvancEd Accreditation.

Our curriculum focuses on advanced, academic and occupational diploma tracks plus career exploration, work experience; extracurricular activities such as music, art and drama; leadership development and independent living training. We believe in immersing our students at all levels in assistive technology that builds self confidence and levels the playing field in classroom/work environments.  Accessibility is the key ingredient to success on our campuses where master level trained teachers use sign language and speech therapy to develop communication skills or Braille and large print to eliminate barriers. Each deaf, blind or multidisabled student’s educational needs deserve and receive the personal touch, including public school students statewide served through our Instructional Resource Center for the Blind.

AIDB also operates the Gentry Facility, a rehabilitation program training deaf and blind adults for work and independent living. During a recent reaccreditation review Gentry’s assistive technology program was praised as one of the best in the country. A recent report cited nine out of ten Gentry clients seeking employment after completing the program found successful job placements.

Alabama Industries for the Blind is the state’s largest employer of blind and deaf adults. AIB employees continue to produce quality items for the military and operates supply stores at military bases in Alabama and Georgia.

Our 8 Regional Centers located throughout the state bring all the education and services of a lifetime together. Within just days of birth, a family in crisis can learn to cope and help their newborn who is deaf or blind develop life skills. A deaf adult needs an interpreter for a medical or legal appointment. A newly blinded lawyer receives a technology assessment to find the right piece of equipment for his job. Education is a lifelong proposition – and it’s personal.

There is no tuition, room or board charged to deaf, blind or multidisabled students whose families are Alabama residents. Ninety percent of AIDB’s schools and services budget is dependent on an appropriation from the Alabama Legislature through the Special Education Trust Fund. By law, AIDB receives no revenue from tuition or local taxes. When state appropriations were cut 23.5% over the past 2 years, colleges and universities raised their tuition an average of 13% or so per year. AIDB did not have an option to charge or raise tuition nor do we receive local tax support as most city and county schools.  AIDB has lost $10 million in our state appropriation. But because our investment has lifelong personal consequences for those we serve, our management team has been committed to an extremely conservative spending policy. We have not borrowed money for operating purposes – choosing instead to live within our means.

At AIDB our deaf and blind consumers learn valuable lessons in managing their lives in order to overcome adversity. They also learn to be accountable for investing their gifts and talents in the most productive way possible in order to become successful employees and citizens. We apply the same principles to the business side of AIDB and regard accountability as a top priority. Five out of 6 recent reviews by the Department of Public Examiners have revealed no findings audits. The AIDB Foundation has scored incomparable clean audits for more than 11 years.

Established in 1858, AIDB’s mission remains strong – to prepare deaf and blind individuals for the business and personal challenges of life. To that end we as an organization continue to strive for equal opportunities in funding for Alabama’s deaf and blind citizens. It’s not just business – it’s personal. It is an investment in the future.