The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) is a state-supported
boarding school for
deaf
Deafness has varying definitions in cultural and medical contexts. In medical contexts, the meaning of deafness is hearing loss that precludes a person from understanding spoken language, an audiological condition. In this context it is written ...
and
blind children established in 1885, in
St. Augustine, Florida, United States.
History
In 1882,
Thomas Hines Coleman, a young deaf man, was preparing to graduate from
Gallaudet University in
Washington, D.C.
)
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, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, the only college for the deaf in the world at that time. He had graduated from the
South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind and knew he wanted to make education for children his life's work.
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
was one of the few states that had not made provision for the education of children who were deaf/hard of hearing or who had visual impairments. Coleman wrote Governor
William D. Bloxham
William Dunnington Bloxham (July 9, 1835 – March 15, 1911) was the 13th and 17th Governor of Florida in two non-consecutive terms. Prior to his first term as governor, he served in the Florida House of Representatives.
In between his terms as ...
and he replied favorably toward the establishment of such a school. As their correspondence continued, the sum of $20,000 was reached as a minimum appropriation to start the school.
[Gannon, Jack. 1981. ''Deaf Heritage–A Narrative History of Deaf America'', Silver Spring, MD: National Association of the Deaf, p. 49]
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In 1883,
Florida's legislature established an institution for the blind and deaf children for two years at $20,000. They requested bids from towns in the state for the location for the school. St. Augustine offered the best bid with $1,000 cash and of land, the land donated by
Captain Edward E. Vaill, a pioneer of the city. Contractor William A. MacDuff erected the original first three wooden buildings at $12,749; they were completed in December 1884.
The school opened in December, 1885 as The School for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb. Although the school had both black and white children in its early years, social opposition to racial integration was rampant, and the Florida Institute for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb, Colored Department was created in 1895.
By 1892, there were 62 students enrolled and the first graduation ceremony, for two white deaf students, Artemas W. Pope and Cora Carlton, was held in 1898. The first graduation for a white blind student, DeWitt Lightsey, was held in 1898 and the first graduation for a black blind student, Louise Jones, was in 1914. The first graduation for a black deaf student, Cary White, was in 1925.
The school was racially integrated in 1967 with the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.
The school was under the direction of a five-member board of trustees until 1905. The Florida legislature established the present seven-member Board of Trustees in 1963.
Construction began on new dormitories in late 1958 and they opened in 1959.
Taylor Hardwick
Taylor Hardwick (July 15, 1925 – September 27, 2014) was an American architect, interior designer, filmmaker, and educator who designed hundreds of buildings throughout northeast Florida, predominantly in and near the city of Jacksonville.
Ha ...
was the architect of record.
Today
The school is now the largest school of its type in the United States with 47 buildings on of land. The school now has an annual budget of over $30 million, up from its original of $20,000. It currently serves 600 students on campus and 400 infants/toddlers and their parents through the statewide Parent Infant Program.
The school is Florida's primary
public school for children who are deaf or blind. Students are transported to the school and back home from all over the state, residing in dormitories during the week. The school serves deaf and blind students in pre-school through 12th grade, and also has a post-secondary program. The school is accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the
Conference of Educational Administrators Serving the Deaf
A conference is a meeting of two or more experts to discuss and exchange opinions or new information about a particular topic.
Conferences can be used as a form of group decision-making, although discussion, not always decisions, are the main ...
, and the
National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped.
The school has two departments: The Deaf Department serves children who are
deaf
Deafness has varying definitions in cultural and medical contexts. In medical contexts, the meaning of deafness is hearing loss that precludes a person from understanding spoken language, an audiological condition. In this context it is written ...
or hard of hearing, and the Blind Department serves children who are
blind or visually impaired. In addition, outreach programs provide support to parents, teachers, and other staff in small and rural school districts in the state of Florida.
The school has a health care center for students as well as two well-appointed auditoriums on campus. Blind high school students can take a sound engineering elective and have opportunities to work with state-of-the-art sound systems within the school.
The school offers ASL courses to the community for a nominal fee.
Athletics and activities
The school is a member of th
Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Students have the opportunity to compete in 11 team sports with public and private schools across the state and nation. School coaching personnel work with about 300 student-athletes each year. Athletic teams include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, flag football, goalball, soccer, swimming, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling.
The school has three gyms, a swimming pool, and two bowling alleys. The school boasts the Copeland Recreation and Fitness Center, specially designed and constructed for the blind. The Copeland Center is the site of the annual USABA (United States Association of Blind Athletes) Youth National
Goalball
Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment. Participants compete in teams of three, and try to throw a ball that has bells embedded inside of it into the opponents' goal. The ball is thrown by hand a ...
Tournament.
Students at the school can join performing groups. The school's Deaf Department has a travelin
Dance Troupe and the Blind Department has a band known a
OuttaSight Other clubs and activities include the Blind Skier Club, Academic Bowl Team (a competitive club), and MathCounts (a traveling Math team).
Notable alumni
*
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
attended St. Augustine School where he learned to read
Braille
Braille (Pronounced: ) is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired, including people who are blind, deafblind or who have low vision. It can be read either on embossed paper or by using refreshable braille disp ...
. The school was known as The Institute for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb at the time.
*
Ashley Fiolek
Ashley Fiolek (born October 22, 1990) is an American former professional motocross racer and current stunt actor. She competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 2008 to 2012. Fiolek, who is culturally deaf and who communicates via America ...
attended the Florida School for the Deaf & Blind
and is a national women's motorcross champion.
*
Marcus Roberts
Marthaniel "Marcus" Roberts (born August 7, 1963) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and teacher.
Early life
Roberts was born in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. His mother was a gospel singer who had gone blind a ...
, jazz pianist.
*Joseph “Joe” Walker, sports broadcaster.
*Sir Charles Atkins, Florida blues legend.
*Ryan Di Giovanni, Bat Boy, Florida Marlins Professional Ballclub.
*
Blind Connie Williams, attended the school in childhood
*
Ross Minor
Ross Andrew Minor (born May 29, 1998) is a blind American accessibility content creator and former para swimmer. He is the second son of Mark and Grace Minor with an older brother, Ryan. On June 14, 2006, Ross’ father went into his room whil ...
, attended
References
Further reading
*
External links
Florida School for the Deaf and Blind
{{DEFAULTSORT:Florida School For The Deaf And Blind
Public education in Florida
School districts in Florida
Schools for the blind in the United States
Schools for the deaf in the United States
Buildings and structures in St. Augustine, Florida
High schools in St. Johns County, Florida
Taylor Hardwick buildings
Public K-12 schools in Florida
Educational institutions established in 1885
1885 establishments in Florida
Public boarding schools in the United States
Boarding schools in Florida