Extended Day Services - Kansas State School for the Blind

KSSB is an educational facility that maintains student residences so that students living beyond daily commuting range may access the school’s educational program through the extended day program. Students enrolled in the extended day program arrive on Sunday evening and return to their home community on Friday afternoon/evening. Priority for use of the residential extended day program is given to those who live beyond daily commuting range. However, the residential facilities provide opportunities for all students to learn and practice the skills of daily living. As appropriate, an IEP team may identify the residences as the instruction site for time-limited, prescriptive instruction of day students to address specific needs related to the skills of daily living. For extended day students, the residential facilities are available to extend learning by practicing skills addressed during school day instruction.

Extended Day Placement Considerations

Students in residence at KSSB are away from family, family physicians and other supports for periods of time. Each child and his/her unique needs and circumstances must be considered in making decisions about utilizing the student residences. Each student’s unique characteristics and specific needs must be thoroughly evaluated to determine if KSSB can adequately assume overnight responsibility for students. Factors for consideration include:

Students who have significant medical needs may exceed the resources for safe medical management and general supervision.
The KSSB student residences do not have the resources to properly manage significantly aggressive, criminal, destructive or otherwise violent behavior that does not respond to corrective interventions.
The need for very young children to be near their families may exceed any anticipated benefits from living in the residences.

Please download and review our Student Placement_Residential Campus Policy 3.20.19.

Review additional information in our Policies and Handbook section of the website.

Facilities

Residential space is located in Edlund Hall and The Cottage. Edlund Hall is a large two-story building containing dormitory space, the health center, staff office and an apartment. On each floor of Edlund Hall is a large open space in the center with a Girls Wing and Boys Wing extending on two sides. The Cottage is a two-bedroom home located on campus between Edlund Hall and the Recreation Center.

The upper level of the Girls Wing contains three double and two triple occupancy rooms and houses the health center. On this level the connecting rooms share a bathroom. The upper level of the Boys Wing, contains four double and four triple occupancy rooms. The Senior Year/Transition apartment and staff office spaces are located on the upper level near the center lounge. Both the lower levels of the Girls Wing and Boys Wing house eight double rooms each. The lower level connecting rooms do not share bathrooms. Restrooms are housed at the ends of each hallway to simulate college dorm life. No boys are allowed in the Girls Wing and no girls are allowed in the Boys Wing.

Edlund Hall

Residence Hall at Night. A large 2 story building with 2 trees and a light pole in front. Light from windows and outdoor lighting shine in the darkness.

Residence Hall – Upper Level

The Upper Level contains a great room for all students’ use to watch TV or movies, listen to music, or choose from a large selection of reading materials in braille, large print or audio formats. A student kitchen on this floor contains a microwave, refrigerator and several countertop appliances for student use. An elevator is available to transport students with special mobility needs between the floors.

A large lounge with five 2 seat sectional recliners forming a circle. A large square coffee table in the center. A partial wall beyond containing a Large Screen TV, books and stereo system. The Partial Wall is formed by 2 stair stepped shelves - wall units that meet to form a corner. The Large Screen TV to the right and books to the left.

Health Center

The heath center is staffed 24 hours a day, when students are on campus. The nursing staff are housed in the residence halls to support the students as needed.

“Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.” – Val Saintsbury

Remember our school nurses every year on May 12 as we celebrate National School Nurse Day.

Health Center Sick Bay contains 2 medical beds on wheels with white sheets. A wheelchair is folded between the foot of one bed and a medical cart. Squares of white, red and yellow plexiglass bordered by navy blue stripes create a 5'x3' screen. The screen is on the side of the second bed.

Residence Hall – Lower Level

A large activity room is available for all students to watch movies, sing karaoke, participate in craft projects, play games, or the piano. A teaching kitchen and laundry room are available for staff and students to use to support the acquisition of skills in cooking and clothing care.

A large room with three round tables that seat 8 each. An entertainment stand with TV and Karaoke. A piano to the right of the Entertainment stand. Three sets of glass french doors line the back wall and lead to a back courtyard when opened.

Access Lab

A computer technology room on the lower level has four complete workstations with computers, copy stands, reading lamps, adjustable keyboard, shelves and adaptive software. Two CCTVs are in this room, along with braille and print printers, and a copy machine. This computer lab is used for study hall and can be used at other times with staff permission. Braillers, talking calculators and additional supplies are available for student use.

A two tiered desk with a computer on first tier and monitor arm on the second tier. A 5'x3' created with white, red and yellow squares plexiglass framed in by navy stripes creates a screen placed between two desks.

A table with a computer and a CCTV. To the right is a table with a printer.

What is Provided?

Each student is provided a room with two dressers, a twin bed, sheets, blankets, a comforter, and a pillow. Twelve rooms have a desk and chair and twelve rooms have a microwave and fridge for students who have mastered quick meal prep skills. Residents are encouraged to bring items from home to personalize their rooms. We encourage students to bring some of their favorite toys to play with and share with others. Many students bring digital music/CD players, radios, and games. Advance permission from the Dormitory Director is required for students to bring portable televisions, stereo equipment, video game equipment, and computers. Parents should mark these things with the student’s name in print and braille, as needed.

Double Room

A twin bed on left and right walls with headboards against the walls. Two 5 drawer dressers are set side by side between beds. The comforter on each bed is maroon with white pillows and white bed skirt.

Triple Room

A dorm room with triple occupancy. Two beds with headboard agains one wall and two 5 drawer dressers between them. The third bed set on other side of the room with headboard against the opposite wall.

Lower Level Group Restrooms

Restroom with 2 sinks and large mirror along the left side and 4 bathroom stalls along the right side. The floor is white tile with blue tile accent. The wall is tiled halfway up with light green tiles interspersed with navy and white tiles.

Lower Level Showers

3 shower stalls with maroon shower curtains.

Residence Hallway

Long hallway leading to an exit with doors on both the right and left side that open into dorm room. Gray carpeting with blue border the length of the hallway.

Residence Microwave & Fridge

A small dorm room size black refrigerator with a small black microwave sitting on top.

Residence Hall Assignment

Assignment in the Residence Hall is a graduated approach based on level of independence and supervision needs of each student. All students start in the upper level of Edlund Hall. As they gain independence and require less supervision a student may be moved to the lower level. Some students in the lower level may experience a greater sense of independence with the addition of a microwave and small refrigerator. Successful management of the additional appliances and responsibilities in the dorm room builds support for the application to an apartment-style assignment.

For seniors and transition year students, an apartment living experience tailored to their needs and abilities is offered. Students must be recommended for this option and complete an application to request the apartment experience. To successfully obtain this placement, a student must meet set standards in the areas of self-help skills, self-responsibility and independent daily living skills.

Greater responsibility comes with this increased independence, including preparing own meals, shopping for groceries, managing own time, learning to manage medications (with supervision from health center staff), paying bills, maintaining grades and passing weekly inspection.

Permission to stay in the freestanding, two-bedroom Cottage located outside the dorm may be granted, if the training program with the apartment goes well.

Apartment Kitchen Area

Apt kitchen with green cabinets on wall and floor. A sink, white dishwasher, oven/store, microwave and toaster oven. Beige tile floor and walls.

Apartment View of Hallway

View of living space with recliner, tv on stand, & desk with CCTV and computer on left, counter with bar stools on the right and in the background an opening to the bedroom.

Apartment Living Area

Living area containing a leather loveseat and recliner with a coffee table on the floor in front of them. The recliner is facing a window with green curtains. To the right of the window is a stand with a TV.

The Cottage

A two story brick building with a tree and light pole in front yard. Nigh lights shining in the dusk.

Extended Day – ECC Instruction

For students residing on campus, instruction does not end when the school day is over. Just as in a home environment, students are expected to actively participate in daily tasks, chores and activities. This expectation serves to provide continued instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum for students who have a visual impairment. Students are evaluated as to their skills and performance in techniques of daily living. Residential staff, in conjunction with parents and classroom teachers, determine skill areas in which students will receive instruction during the course of the year. Progress reports are written at the end of each quarter and are submitted to the parents along with the academic grades and IEP progress reports. Parent involvement is always welcome and encouraged in order to provide a relevant and meaningful ECC educational program for each student. When parents want to talk about their child’s progress in the Dormitory Program, contact Sue Pollan, Extended Campus (Dormitory) Director.