Education Services for the Deaf and Blind

The Education Services for the Deaf and Blind (ESDB) manages the administration of the three specialized, state schools serving students who have hearing and/or vision loss.

For students with hearing loss, the state is divided into the eastern and western regions:

The Governor Morehead School for the Blind is located in Raleigh and serves students state-wide with vision loss.

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The ESDB schools offer special education, related services, extracurricular activities, and a boarding program. Services include:

  • Comprehensive individualized educational services for students with visual and auditory impairments to meet the requirements of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and the Expanded Core Curriculum to prepare for post-secondary education, the world of work, and independent living.

  • Partnerships with the community in the provision of preschool education for students with varying visual and auditory abilities.

  • Support of local education agencies (LEAs) in meeting the needs of their students who have auditory or visual challenges by utilizing data provided by the LEA as a basis for intensive instruction.

  • Collaborations with national and state partners to improve instructional practices and develop and utilize high quality, systematic professional development models for teaching students with visual and auditory impairments.

The ESDB schools are committed to enhancing the healthy eating and activity patterns essential for all students to achieve their full academic potential, full physical and mental growth, and lifelong health and well-being. The schools also participate in the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs offered through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and are subject to meeting federal non-discrimination regulations. For more information, see the ESDB Student Wellness Policy and the USDA Non-Discrimination Statement.