About Us

For more than 150 years, we've provided educational services to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind and blind/visually impaired students from birth to 21. The Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD) and the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind (MSAB) are statewide public schools with dormitory options that serves students with a wide variety of educational needs from all regions of the state. 

MSA offers a challenging and rewarding educational experience for students from birth to 21.  Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are designed for each student and implemented throughout the educational program in both school and residential settings. MSA also provides specialized and intense services that focus on the unique learning needs of each student. 

For each and every student, we provide accommodations, individualized support/services, and other programming to help students achieve their goals and prepare for life after graduation. We also have a full array of related services that are available to students (as defined in their IEPs), including speech/language services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, orientation and mobility, DeafBlind interveners, and more. 

The residential program option offers a nurturing, home-like environment which promotes opportunities for our students to socialize among their peers. Students participate in a wealth of clubs, activities, athletic and co-curricular activities. Living Skills training centers within each dormitory provides space and facilities for students to practice life skills development in order to prepare them for the transition to independence and adulthood. 

On the MSAD campus, our ECE program offers education for students from birth to 5 years old, starting with home visits for infants from birth to 2, and then in-classroom instruction for toddlers and up. All of our ECE classrooms use the Creative Curriculum, which ensure our students are kindergarten-ready. Class activities, toys and materials are carefully selected to foster growth through different developmental areas. 

We believe family involvement is paramount to providing quality education for every student. We strive to involve families in the education of their children and in the improvement of the educational process. We're pleased to regularly offer opportunities for family involvement through our events, which includes Literacy Nights, Family Immersion Weekend, Parent Child Institute, and Parent ASL classes.