Nestled in Cave Spring, Georgia, is the Georgia School for the Deaf. The residential/day school serves children ages 0-21, and admits only those with a measured hearing loss of at least 55 decibels.
- A separate program for multi-handicapped children with hearing losses.
- Students may receive one of three diplomas:
- A regular state diploma, if they pass educational tests
- A special education diploma
- Certificate of attendance
- A vocational program for upper school students.
Atlanta Area School for the Deaf
The other state-operated school for the deaf in Georgia is the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf (AASD), based in Clarkston, Georgia. The school has a highly trained and educated faculty, and extremely (by today's standards) small classroom size. As with the main state school, services are offered to multi-handicapped deaf children as well as those without additional disabilities.
- To encourage students to become independent, the school has a "life skills" center that mimics daily living.
- Separate wings for each age group, preschool through high school.
- Coordinates the state Parent Infant Network for Educational Services (PINES) early intervention program.
- Teenagers can participate in the Vocational Opportunities in the Community Environment (VOICE) program to prepare for the working world.
- The school continues to minister to the needs of its students even after graduation, following up with graduates a year after they leave AASD.
AASD is also home to a state Educational Resource Center on Deafness, providing information on deafness to individuals and communities statewide.
