Texas Blind, Deaf, and Orphan School

Texas Blind, Deaf, and Orphan School was a school for blind and deaf black people in Austin, Texas. Throughout its history, the school served only black students and had black teachers; whites attended the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) and the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI).

Texas Blind, Deaf, and Orphan School
Information
Founded1887
Last updated: 29 December 2017

The 18th Texas Legislature established the school in 1887 and spent $50,000 to acquire the site and build the facility. The school, originally named the Texas Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institute for Colored Youth, opened on October 17, 1887. Initially, it had two teachers and 17 students.[1] It developed a dialect of sign language divergent from that of TSD because of their separation.[2]

In 1943, the Texas State Colored Orphans' Home merged into the deaf and blind school, and its name changed to the Texas Blind, Deaf, and Orphan School. The school moved into a new campus in 1961. In 1965, its name was changed to the Texas Blind and Deaf School, and it merged into TSD that year.[1]

Campus

The final site, located along Airport Boulevard, became the TSD East Campus in 1965.[3] The State of Texas had built 11 buildings at the site, formerly occupied by the Montopolis Drive-in Theater, for $1.5 million in 1961. These buildings had a capacity of 1,208 students.[1] After the 2000–2001 school year TSD sold this property to the City of Austin, and the two campuses were consolidated.[3]

The original campus was on a 100-acre (40 ha) site between 38th Street and 45th Street on Bull Creek Road.[1]

References
  1. Markham, James W. "TEXAS BLIND, DEAF, AND ORPHAN SCHOOL" (Archive). Handbook of Texas. Retrieved on May 12, 2015.
  2. Tabak, John. Significant Gestures: A History of American Sign Language. Greenwood Publishing Group, January 1, 2006. ISBN 0275989747, 9780275989743. p. 99.
  3. "Heritage Center" (Archive). Texas School for the Deaf. Retrieved on May 12, 2015.

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