Since 1887, the Texas Blind, Deaf and Orphan School for the Colored (BDO) had been in existence in Austin, Texas. This school was formerly located in West Austin on Bull Creek Road. In 1960 it was moved to 601 Airport Boulevard in East Austin, where a completely new school was built to accommodate the black, blind and orphan children.
In 1965, Senate Bill No. 143, as enacted by the 59th Legislature, changed the name BDO to the Texas Blind and Deaf School and placed jurisdiction and control of it with the State Board of Education effective September 1, 1965 from the State Board for Hospitals and Special Schools. The Texas School for the Deaf and the Texas School for the Blind were under the same State Board of Education.
Immediately after the Legislature enacted this law, plans begun for desegregation of TSD and BDO because of the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Certain steps were taken during the 1965-1966 school term but total desegregation became a reality in all Residential Special Schools as of September 1, 1966.
The BDO campus became the East Campus since it was located in East Austin. It became the Lower School for the small children. And the TSD campus on South Congress was called the South Campus with the Upper, Middle, and Vocational Schools. In 2001 the East Campus was sold.
_______________
About the Heritage Center and Museum
A museum for items of historical significance and an archive of the school’s film, photographs, and written records are maintained and circulated for display in the Heritage Center, located at heart of the campus.
The Museum is open Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays from 10 - 2
Contact us at [email protected] to make an appointment or schedule a tour of the Heritage Center.
- We can also assist you in:
- Locating specialized materials
- Answering questions about assistive devices
- Staff development activities
- Curriculum Development and Implementation
- Technology Integration