Macon Magazine

DEEP ROOTS, DEEPER MISSION Georgia Academy for the Blind creates life-long impact on students, community By Lisa Pritchard Mayfield | Photography by Christopher Smith IF STAYING POWER plays a role in the success of an academic institution, it's no wonder the Georgia Academy for the Blind is still going strong – nearly 168 years after its founding. In fact, the unique school is well-positioned to continue to break barriers as it forges ahead in the coming years. Founded by Macon residents in 1852 and funded by a $5,000 grant from the state legislature, the Georgia Academy for the Blind has been well-situated at its current Vineville Avenue location since 1902. One of three state schools operated by the Georgia Department of Education, GAB is a sister school to the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf and the Georgia School for the Deaf. GAB has an average annual enrollment of about 110 students, some of whom are residential students, while others are transported daily. "It's amazing to think that the Georgia Academy for the Blind has provided services to students that have vision impairments, some with additional disabilities, in Georgia since 1852," said Dr. Kenney Moore, state schools director with the Georgia Department of Education. "We are fortunate that the Georgia Legislature understood the need to establish such an important school. This occurred years before the Civil War even started." As the only state school committed solely to the education of Georgia's K-12 students with visual impairment, eligible students from any Georgia school system may enroll utilizing IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and the IEP (Individual Education Plan) process. Because it is operated by the Georgia Department of Education, the curriculum offered at GAB follows the Georgia Standards of Excellence content, which is mandated for all Georgia Public Schools. "GAB is well-known for outstanding visual arts and choral and theatric 6 2 MACONMAGAZINE.COM | D E C E M B E R / J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0

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