Residential Life

The cottage program provides students with a safe and wholesome residential environment teaching self-reliance. Students are cared for by experienced cottage parents who cooperate with teachers, parents, clinic staff and therapists to ensure continuity of the education program. Night cottage parents are assigned to each cottage throughout the night. Security staff is available twenty four hours per day seven days per week to ensure the safety of the students.

The residential students can stay at the school five nights per week (Sunday-Thursday) during the school year. The students are bused home weekly after lunch Friday and return to campus Sunday evening.

The cottages have been designed to provide a family atmosphere with accommodations meeting the needs of the students. The students live in cottages that accommodate a maximum of twelve students with two or three cottage parents, depending on the needs of the students. Each cottage has a large living room, playroom, kitchen/dining area, 4 bathrooms and six individual bedrooms. The custodial staff cleans and refurbishes the cottages each day.

The students are encouraged to personalize their bedroom with pictures, posters, photographs, personal items and stuffed animals. Many of the students have stereos, CD players or tape recorders and enjoy listening to their favorite music or story tapes.

Cottage parents follow a sequential curriculum that emphasizes activity of daily living skills. Student participation is based on performance and skill level in a particular activity after individual student ability is determined. Seniors who have completed the Home Economics class and demonstrated proficiency in ADL are given the opportunity to participate in the Semi - Independent Living Program. Students work to gain confidence, develop competence and become independent in activity of daily living skills.

All students are encouraged to participate in various extra-curricular activities offered on campus such as, i.e. Scouts, Ham Radio, TSB Radio Station, Golf Club and the Exercise Club.

Participation in leisure and recreational activities is an important aspect of cottage life at The Tennessee School for the Blind. The recreation program is designed to offer students a variety of activities based on each individuals ability, to increase and develop their recreational skills to the maximum. The main emphasis is the learning of , "Life Time Skills", which will enable the students to utilize after graduation. The students develop their awareness and knowledge of leisure activities, while learning to utilize free time, develop social skills and have fun.