Did you know the oldest continuously operating public school in Texas is a high school for the Deaf where American Sign Language is the only allowed means of communication?
The Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) was established in 1856 under the Sixth Legislature and was initially named the Texas Deaf and Dumb Asylum. Fortunately, numerous changes have occurred during its 168-year existence, including the school’s renaming.
Certain aspects have endured and continue to contribute to the school’s extensive history. For instance, TSD still occupies the 67-acre plot of land situated between South Congress Avenue and South 1st Street in Austin.
Forbes Health reports that over 1.5 billion individuals worldwide currently experience hearing impairment in at least one ear, and approximately 700 million people worldwide are projected to have “disabling hearing loss” by 2050.
The state of Texas has been at the forefront of providing support to youth with hearing loss, enabling them to overcome obstacles and achieve success that surpasses any stereotype or assumption.
TSD has more than 500 students and provides education for children from toddlers to high school students. In May, 47 students who had completed high school were awarded their diplomas.
Statistics from U.S. News & World Report highlight that economically disadvantaged and minority students make up the majority enrollment, specifically 60%.
TSD offers services such as assisting with transition planning for college, careers, or independent living, providing sign language support, offering extra- and co-curricular activities for all grade levels, and maintaining small student-to-teacher ratios.
Texas Co-op Power’s publication featured an article in its September edition about TSD’s efforts to address misconceptions about deafness.
Xiovan Tomlinson, TSD student and quarterback for the Rangers, the TSD football team, addressed the misconceptions some in the hearing world have: “They think that we have low IQs or we can’t drive,” he said. “But really, deaf people can do anything.”
The Rangers have a yearly 10-game schedule that includes playing at least two games against other Deaf state schools, with one game being held at home and one away. The host school treats the visiting team to a dinner and a dance, reported Texas Co-op Power, to establish a supportive network for students dealing with similar obstacles.
Although high school football may be considered king in Texas, football wasn’t TSD’s first organized sport; it was baseball in 1887.
Since then, the cumulative victories of TSD’s various sports teams have achieved victory in 69 national championships across 12 different sports, with 16 of those victories occurring in football.
Niven Zhang, a TSD student and Ranger football player, expressed why TSD was better for him than attending a hearing public school.
“I just feel like going to a public school would be really a waste of time because there’s a lot of logistical things that we have to work out with interpreters,” Zhang said, per Texas Co-op Power. “Here at Texas School for the Deaf, everything works just like it should.”
Hearing loss ranks as the fourth-leading cause of disability worldwide and is linked to feelings of loneliness, depression, decreased cognitive function, and other adverse health effects, reported Forbes Health.
Thankfully, the staff, teachers, students, and parents at TSD embrace the importance of its mission and strive to exemplify it in their daily lives, both inside and outside the classroom.
“Texas School for the Deaf ensures students learn, grow and belong in a language-rich environment that maximizes each individual’s potential to become successful life-long learners while supporting students, families, and professionals through statewide outreach services,” reads TSD’s mission statement.