CSDB

What CSDB does

The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) is a state-operated residential school serving Deaf, Blind, and DeafBlind learners from birth through age 21 across Colorado. Founded in 1874, two years before Colorado achieved statehood, CSDB operates under the Colorado Department of Education from a 34-acre historic campus in Colorado Springs comprising 17 buildings, 12 of which are designated historical. The institution delivers a cradle-to-transition continuum of specialized educational services: the Colorado Home Inclusion Program (CHIP) for birth-to-three early intervention, an Early Education Center for ages 3-6, the K-12 School for the Deaf operating under a bilingual bicultural ASL/English framework, the K-12 School for the Blind integrating the Expanded Core Curriculum (braille, assistive technology, orientation and mobility), and the Bridges to Life transition program for ages 18-21 offering college courses at Pikes Peak State College, vocational training, and community job placements. The school's underlying educational technology centers on specialized pedagogical approaches rather than software platforms: direct ASL immersion, Braille instruction, Orientation and Mobility training, and accessible instructional materials production through the Colorado Instructional Materials Center (CIMC), which produces and distributes Braille, large print, digital, and other accessible formats statewide.

CSDB extends its reach beyond the residential campus through a portfolio of outreach programs serving Colorado families and local school districts statewide: CHIP, the Colorado Shared Reading Project, Early Education Tele-ASL, Blind Services via Community Centered Boards, community ASL classes, and accessible materials distribution. The institution holds dual accreditation from the American Foundation for the Blind-affiliated AER and the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD). CSDB is led by Superintendent Tera Spangler, the first Deaf Superintendent in the school's history, appointed permanently in 2024 after serving as Interim Superintendent since 2022. The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates with approximately 184 staff members across its academic, residential, outreach, and administrative functions. Strategic positioning is articulated in the 2026-2031 Strategic Plan, which targets aggressive enrollment growth, 90% graduate postsecondary engagement, and designation as Colorado's premier first-choice specialized school. As a Colorado state-funded institution with no tuition for residents, CSDB's revenue model is based on state appropriations through the Colorado Department of Education, augmented by grants (e.g., Harvey Family Foundation) and community partnerships supporting enrichment programs such as Enchanted Hills Camp attendance.

Name

CSDB

Legal name

Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind

Website

https://csdb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1874

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CSDB is Colorado's statewide state-funded residential school providing specialized K-12 and transition education for Deaf, Blind, and DeafBlind learners from birth through age 21, operating from a historic Colorado Springs campus and delivering statewide outreach and accessible instructional materials.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services (Deaf, Blind, and DeafBlind)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI), Specialized Inclusive / Co-Taught Special Education Programs (EDAKAAAK), Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.) (EDAMAFAM)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Deaf education programs
• Blind education programs
• Statewide outreach services
• Accessible instructional materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. State Funding: CSDB is Colorado-funded and state-operated, receiving appropriations through the Colorado Department of Education. There is no tuition for Colorado residents. Funding supports all campus operations, statewide outreach programs, and the Colorado Instructional Materials Center.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CSDB is Colorado's statewide, state-operated residential and day school providing specialized education and outreach for Deaf, Blind, and DeafBlind students from birth through age 21. Core academic offerings include the School for the Deaf (K-12), School for the Blind (K-12), Preschool/Early Education Center, and the Bridges to Life Transition Program (ages 18-21), supplemented by statewide outreach services such as early intervention (CHIP), accessible materials production (CIMC), community ASL classes, and diagnostic and consultative support to families and school districts.

Product overview

The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) is Colorado's statewide educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs spanning preschool through post-secondary transition. The core educational programs include the School for the Deaf (K-12) with bilingual bicultural framework, the School for the Blind (K-12) integrating Expanded Core Curriculum, the Preschool/Early Education Center (ages 3-6), and the Bridges to Life Transition Program (ages 18-21). CSDB extends its reach through Outreach Programs including the Colorado Home Inclusion Program (CHIP), Colorado Shared Reading Project (CSRP), Early Education ASL, ASL Classes (community and professional immersion), Blind Services, and the Colorado Instructional Materials Center (CIMC). Support services include Residential Life and Athletics Programs, while Programs and Clubs provide after-school enrichment. The institution serves as Colorado's resource center for Deaf, Blind, and Deafblind students from birth through age 21.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School for the Deaf (K-12) A bilingual bicultural K-12 educational program providing a fully immersive ASL environment where Deaf students learn alongside peers and Deaf mentors who reflect their identity and communication needs. Tuition-free for Colorado residents.
• School for the Blind (K-12) A rigorous individualized K-12 education for students who are Blind or have low vision, integrating Colorado Academic Standards with the Expanded Core Curriculum, including braille instruction, assistive technology, orientation and mobility, and independent living skills. Tuition-free for Colorado residents.
• Preschool (Early Education Center) Preschool programs for Deaf, hard of hearing, blind, and low vision children ages 3-6, offering play-based learning with dedicated teachers and hands-on experiences. Tuition-free for Colorado residents.
• Bridges to Life Transition Program A transition program for students ages 18-21 providing postsecondary education preparation, workforce training, and independent living skills through college courses, vocational programs, and community job placements. Tuition-free for Colorado residents.
• Colorado Home Inclusion Program (CHIP) A family-centered early intervention program for Colorado families with children who have hearing differences, providing coordination, language planning support, and connections to community resources for children from birth to age three. Delivered in collaboration with Local Early Intervention Programs by CHIP Facilitators (Teachers of the Deaf, Audiologists, Speech-Language Pathologists). Free for Colorado families.
• Colorado Shared Reading Project (CSRP) A free program helping families with Deaf or hard of hearing children (infant through age 8) learn book-sharing strategies using American Sign Language to improve literacy skills.
• Early Education ASL (Tele ASL) Tele ASL classes and individualized instruction for families with Deaf or Hard of Hearing children from birth to age three, supporting ASL as part of their communication plan.
• ASL Classes (Community and Professional) Community ASL classes offered in four levels (Level 1-4), ASL Immersion programs for professionals and families, and family ASL classes for parents in CSDB programs. Held in 8-week sessions three times yearly.
• Blind Services Vision services for young children who are blind or visually impaired, provided through collaboration with Community Centered Boards in Pikes Peak, south and southeast Colorado areas; includes early intervention, school services, specialized assessments, and adult role model connections.
• Colorado Instructional Materials Center (CIMC) Produces and distributes braille, large print, digital, and other accessible instructional materials for eligible Blind and Low Vision students throughout Colorado. Unique statewide resource not available elsewhere in Colorado.
• Residential Life Program On-campus residential program for students providing independence building, peer role modeling, and life skills development using the COMPLETE program framework. Available to enrolled residential students.

Quantifiable outcome

• By June 2031, Blind enrollment will double, and Deaf enrollment will triple
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pikes Peak Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBridges to Life transition students work with Habitat for Humanity on construction projects developing trade skills. Students Jathan Luna, Sergio Tapia, and Cesar Palafox received the Construction Volunteer Group of the Year Award at Habitat's annual banquet for their dedication and outstanding contribution throughout the school year.
• Kangaroo CoffeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing job training for Bridges to Life students. Student Yoleth works as a barista learning drink recipes, espresso machine operation, and customer service skills with job coach support.
• Colorado Center for the BlindStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth programs partnership where CCB's Tiffany Moon coordinated guest speaker Peggy Chong (Blind History Lady) and current Independence Training Program students to share stories and experiences with CSDB students.
• USA GoalballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSA Goalball Paralympians Zion Walker and Tre'Shaun Faison conducted goalball clinics at CSDB. USA Goalball officially relocated to the Colorado Springs Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in May 2024.
• Colorado Department of Education (CDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSDB became part of CDE in 1977. CDE ESSU and CSDB Outreach Programs collaborate to create resource documents for DHH, BVI, and DB Support across Colorado.
• Local Early Intervention ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIP services delivered in collaboration with Local Early Intervention Programs by CHIP Facilitators including Teachers of the Deaf, Audiologists, and Speech-Language Pathologists.
• Community Centered Boards (CCBs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSDB Outreach provides vision services to young children who are blind or visually impaired through collaboration with CCBs in Pikes Peak, south and southeast Colorado areas.
• Pikes Peak State CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransition program students attend college courses at Pikes Peak State College (formerly Pikes Peak Community College) as part of their transition programming.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Helen Keller National Center: National nonprofit serving DeafBlind individuals across age groups, with a strong transition and vocational training component analogous to CSDB's Bridges to Life program. Closest U.S. comparability to CSDB's DeafBlind and transition service lines.
• Indiana School for the Deaf: Indiana's public residential school serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing students from preschool through high school. Comparable to CSDB's School for the Deaf in mission, residential model, and state-affiliated governance structure, though narrower in scope (deaf only).
• California School for the Deaf, Fremont: California's public K-12 residential school for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students offering ASL/English bilingual education. Mirrors CSDB's bilingual bicultural framework and state-operated residential structure, with a comparably broad outreach and transition footprint within its state.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Massachusetts-based private nonprofit school serving Blind and Visually Impaired students from birth through age 22, including residential programming and the Expanded Core Curriculum. Directly parallel to CSDB's School for the Blind in mission and curriculum design, though operated as a private nonprofit rather than a state agency.
• Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind: Florida's state-operated residential school serving Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Blind, and DeafBlind students from preschool through high school, directly paralleling CSDB's mission and residential model. Robert Dawson, a former CSDB superintendent, previously served as principal there, confirming the two institutions operate in the same peer category nationally.
• Texas School for the Deaf: Texas's statewide public residential school for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, providing K-12 and transition programs under state operation. Directly comparable to CSDB's School for the Deaf in mandate, governance (state agency), and residential instructional model.
• Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Iowa's statewide agency providing educational services to Blind and Visually Impaired students, employing CSDB Blind School Principal Jonathan Karli before his current role. Comparable to CSDB in its statewide blind-education mission and direct service model, though structured as a state agency rather than a residential campus.
• Kentucky School for the Deaf: Kentucky's state-operated residential school for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, offering K-12 and transition programming comparable in scope to CSDB's School for the Deaf. Reflects a similar statewide residential mandate under state-agency governance.
• American School for the Deaf: The oldest school for the deaf in the United States (founded 1817), operating a bilingual ASL/English program and serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing students with residential options. Comparable to CSDB's School for the Deaf in instructional philosophy and residential structure, though it does not serve Blind students.
• New York School for the Deaf (Fanwood): New York's private nonprofit residential school serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing students with bilingual ASL/English instruction across its K-12 program. Directly comparable to CSDB's School for the Deaf in instructional approach and residential structure, with overlapping community philosophy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@csdbchannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/csdbbulldogs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/csdb
• Instagraminstagram.com/csdb_bulldogs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CSDB