Outreach
FSDB serves as a trusted resource throughout the state of Florida and beyond, providing comprehensive programs and services for students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, or deafblind, their families, and the professionals who serve them.
Connect with us
The goal of the FSDB Outreach Department is to increase awareness about the many campus based and statewide programs and services offered by the School. These include but are not limited to the following:
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Pre-K and K-12 educational programming tailored to the individualized needs of students.
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Distance learning and statewide training opportunities.
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Exhibits and presentations at local, regional, and statewide conferences.
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Student evaluation services for school districts.
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Expanded core curriculum academies available.
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Expo-themed orientation to campus programs and services.
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Parent/family engagement and training opportunities.
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Early intervention services for families of children 0-5 years of age.
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School-age outreach opportunities.
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Campus tours for families of prospective students.
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The FSDB Outreach Department works closely with district school leadership and special education personnel throughout the state of Florida with the goal of maximizing opportunities for student success.
ECC Interactive Learning Series EVENTS
Free Community ASL Class
FSDB welcomes community members and business partners to sign up to learn more about our in-person classes to be held after the new year. Classes are held in the evenings one day per week for 8-10 weeks. Attendance is encouraged for the entire session. Pre-registration will be required and the classes will be limited to 25 participants.
Click the link below to sign up for our ASL Class Information List; you'll receive updates on upcoming ASL classes FSDB offers.
Summer Quest 2023
Ready for an adventure in the oldest city with new friends! Summer Quest is an overnight camp offering various recreational and social experiences. Kayak in Hospital Creek, swim in our indoor pool, let your imagination inspire works of art, score a winning basket, and dance your heart out on stage!
If you are between the ages of 8-17, are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, or deafblind, and live in Florida, you can experience a summer you'll never forget. Download the application now to start your quest. The application deadline is April 22nd.
Dates
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June 4-9, 2023 (ages 8-12)
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June 11-16, 2023 (ages 13-17)
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Who can attend
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Enrolled FSDB students
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Non-enrolled FSDB students
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Blind/Visually Impaired
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Deaf/Hard of Hearing
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Deafblind (dual-sensory)
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For more information, contact:
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Sue Hill
Summer Camp Director
PH: 904-827-2601
Email: hills@fsdbk12.org
Evening with the Experts
You are invited to register for our webinar series featuring panels of experts from around the state! Each week, our diverse panelists will focus on strategies and resources to support students, families, and professionals and discuss each other's experiences. Topics will be specific to Blind/Visually Impaired (BVI), Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) and/or Deafblind students. Register to learn "Best Practices" as well as trending issues, ideas, and principles.
FSDB Expo
Please join us for the National Goalball Championship and FSDB Expo on Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (EST).
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Learn about FSDB programs and resources
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Q & A with Paralympian team players
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Mini Goalball Experience
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Kids "Take-and-Make" at Home Sensory Activity Kits
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Goalball Tournament Matches 1 PM – 5 PM
The FSDB Expo will be held in the Wilson Music Building.
Registration is required and spaces are limited, so don’t wait! Registration closes on November 2, 2022, or when all slots are filled.
asl interactive online classes
Parents, family members, and professionals who communicate and work directly with deaf/hard of hearing children either in a classroom or at home can take advantage of an 8-week ASL Interactive Online Classes, offered free of charge by FSDB. In addition to weekly class sessions, a virtual lab session is available for participants to practice their sign skills and ask questions. Class instructors present through an online video chat room, allowing participants to join from the comfort of their homes or workplaces. Click the link below to register for Fall 2024.
Virtual Community Braille Classes
Interested in learning braille to help your child, friend, parent, co-worker, or just to learn yourself? Parents, families, neighbors, students and community members can take this virtual class free of charge, which will provide you the opportunity to learn the basics of braille. Click the link below to sign up for our Fall 2024 classes.
visit us at the following events
Braille Challenge
Saint Augustine, FL
February 27, 2025
About FSDB
At FSDB, students learn to do more, be more, and achieve more, fulfilling our vision of preparing them for a lifetime of success. FSDB is a fully accredited, tuition-free state public school for eligible Pre-K and K-12 students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, or deafblind. The School serves 975+ students each year through statewide parent-infant/family programs as well as a Montessori Pre-K early learning center and K-12 elementary, middle, and high schools on its campus.
Campus tours
The best way to learn about FSDB is to set up a tour of the School campus in St. Augustine. Campus tours are individualized for families of prospective students and external stakeholders who have an interest in learning more about the School. Visitors will have the opportunity to see students at work in the classroom and in school-based enterprises. Tours are normally scheduled on Monday through Friday during regular class times.
CAmpus expos
The FSDB Outreach Department holds free FSDB Expo events during the fall and spring months at its St. Augustine campus, specifically designed for Florida school district personnel serving students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, and deafblind. Attendees visit, learn, and interact at resource exhibits, take in student performances, see FSDB students at work, take part in presentations, tour the campus, and network with Florida school district and FSDB personnel.
Parent Infant Programs
The FSDB Parent Infant Program within the Parent Services Department offers statewide early intervention, family-centered opportunities free of charge for children ages 0-5 who are deaf/hard of hearing or blind/visually impaired. Parent advisors provide individualized professional services in the family’s home and during daily routines, in the child’s natural environment. The Parent Infant Program works collaboratively with the Florida state Early Steps program and the Department of Blind Services.
Stay and Play Group
The parent-involved Stay and Play Group on the FSDB campus provides developmental learning experiences for children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing or Blind/Visually Impaired, ages birth to 36 months and their caregivers.
The early years are when children use their bodies, senses, and emerging problem-solving skills to make sense of their world. Babies and toddlers actively seek information by exploring their environment and making new discoveries
EVALUATION SERVICES
FSDB offers Outreach Evaluation Services assistance to school districts across the state of Florida by evaluating students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, or deafblind.
School districts can refer students to FSDB for assessment services on the FSDB campus. Evaluation results are shared with the school district IEP team to identify each student's programming needs, classroom accommodations or modifications, and service delivery strategies.
additional outreach services
DEAFtec
Deaf Technological Education Center (DeafTEC) is a National Science Foundation-funded initiative developed by the Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID). DeafTEC serves as a resource for high schools and community colleges that educate students in STEM-related programs. FSDB is one of four academic partners that continually add website resources to provide stakeholders with access to high quality information. Through DeafTEC Project Fast Forward, FSDB is among 25 partner schools in 12 states that provide RIT/NTID STEM dual credit education courses for students. Additional projects and resources are available through the DeafTec website.
rmtc-dhh
Resource Materials and Technology Center: Deaf/Hard of Hearing (RMTC-D/HH) is a statewide discretionary project of the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) and functions as a statewide specialized center within the Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS) network. Located on the FSDB campus, RMTC-D/HH coordinates provision of accessible materials including captioned and signed videos, professional development books, and other reference materials. In addition, RMTC-D/HH staff provide on-site training and technical assistance to Florida school districts, families, and other state and federal discretionary projects serving students who are deaf/hard of hearing.
Director
elizabeth wilcox
Elizabeth A. Wilcox has worked with visually impaired and dual sensory impaired students in various settings and leadership roles. After graduation, Wilcox moved from Pennsylvania to Florida to start her first teaching job at FSDB. She took on successive roles in the FSDB Blind Department as an Elementary School Teacher, Off Campus Academic Coordinator, Braille Specialist, and Assistive Technology Specialist. In between her time at FSDB, she was an Itinerant Vision Teacher and Vision Program Specialist for Duval County (Jacksonville, FL) and a Teacher at Perkins School for the Blind in Boston. Currently, Wilcox is the Director of the FSDB Outreach Department, where she strives to enhance student education and services across the state of Florida.
Master of Arts, Educational Leadership, University of North Florida
Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education and Visual Disabilities, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
We value our partnerships with parents and families, communities, local and state organizations, and school districts as we collaborate on issues of mutual interest and sharing best practices through training, seminars, and conferences.