Lavelle School for the Blind

Lavelle School for the Blind is a special education school in the Bronx, New York City. It serves children and young adults who have visual impairments and other disabilities between 3 and 21 years old. The school offers four main programs – Preschool, Elementary, Secondary, and Transition – as well as a summer program so students can continue learning year-round. Attendance is free for families, the school is funded by New York State through the 4201 and 4410 programs.[1]

History

It was established in 1904 by a Catholic blind woman, Margaret Coffey, and it was formerly known as the Catholic Institute for the Blind.[2] It formally became a Catholic school in 1909 with the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt beginning to operate the school in 1911. It moved to its current facility in 1916.[3] It was renamed in 1938 in honor of Monsignor Lavelle.[4] New York state authorities began funding the school in 1942. For a period it served as a boarding school; boarding ended in 1983.[2]

In 1995 it had 101 students.[3]

In 2020 it had 125 students. That year, as the COVID-19 pandemic in New York occurred, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York gave the school $2,500 so it could buy seven tablet computers tailored to the school's needs.[5]

Curriculum

In 1995 it had academic and life skills classes. It has a special Individual Education Program, with its own diplomas, for multiply impaired students.[3]

Admissions

Admissions and placement is approved by the Committee on Preschool Special Education and the Committee on Special Education depending on the age of the student.[6]

Activities

The school began offering baseball as a sport in 2020.[7]

References

  1. ^ "4201:STAC:NYSED". www.oms.nysed.gov. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Our History". Lavelle School for the Blind. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Ames, Lynne (May 21, 1995). "The View From: The Bronx; With Multiple Disabilities, the Secret Ingredient Is Determination". The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  4. ^ "MGR. LAVELLE DIES; RECTOR 52 YEARS; MGR. MICHAEL J. LAVELLE (Published 1939)". October 18, 1939. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  5. ^ Brown, Elisha (October 22, 2020). "When Schools Closed, These Remote Learners Needed Extra Help". The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  6. ^ "Admission Procedures". www.lavelleschool.org. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  7. ^ "Bronx school for the blind starts baseball program". News 12 Brooklyn. October 30, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2021.

40°52′55″N 73°51′13″W / 40.88194°N 73.85361°W / 40.88194; -73.85361

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