A residential school is an institution where deaf or blind (or deaf/blind) students attend and also live full time while attending. The deaf students are educated by deaf teachers or teachers who are trained (and fluent)in ASL. Some residential schools offer day-only options for students that are able to commute from home. These are students who live close or whose families have moved in order to commute.

PROS:

• Students will be around other deaf and hard of hearing students.

• Education is individualized to the needs of the student

• Most schools offer after school activities and more opportunities for the deaf child to participate

• There is access to strong deaf role models.

CONS:

• Students are usually away from home and their families for long periods of time.

• Children can feel isolated from their families.

• There may be expenses involved in this type of schooling.

• Deaf children do not have access to hearing children so this may not prepare them for the real world