Testimonials

At the Texas School for the Deaf we have spent over a century leading the cause of deaf education, deaf rights and deaf issues, all in order to create an optimal environment for education, a community of respect and a home for deaf culture.

For 150 years, TSD has touched the lives of over 10,000 deaf students in the state of Texas. Here are just a small few of their stories. The stories of their lives, the story of what TSD has meant to them.

The Jacobs Story

"I started out in an oral school and because I couldn't speak well, I really had no chance of success. I felt frustrated, isolated - a failure."

Texas School for the Deaf has over 10,000 students and alumni. Every one of them is a human being with so much to contribute to the world. Every one of them has a story.

"This year I was named Valedictorian. I am as proud of that as any accomplishments on the football field or baseball diamond. But I think that is the whole experience that makes you who you are - my self esteem, my ability to make friends, my relationship with my family - all was forged in large part by Texas School for the Deaf."

Texas School for the Deaf is a place where students can flourish, discovering leadership and fellowship. Education and athletics. Art, theater and technology. It is a place where deaf students learn to not let their deafness hold them back from what they may offer the world.

"I'm convinced there is no other place where I could've cultivated my love for sports and also f lourished academically. That is the magic of this place - it offers a deaf student so much. You work hard and you can become anything you want to become."

Classes are smaller, more intimate. Individual attention is a cherished part of our learning program. And our educators are as dedicated as any educators anywhere- hearing or deaf-and many are alumni of TSD. They understand the challenges, the relish in the culture, they become powerful role models.

"I'm going to college and I want to be an athletic administrator when I get my degree. My dream would be to come back to Texas School for the Deaf and lead the athletic department someday. The school has given me so much, I'd cherish the chance to give back."

Texas School for the Deaf is a premier choice for education, life skills and personal growth. A place designed to help your child live up to his or her potential. And create an environment where deaf students can truly learn, grow and belong.

"This is part of my 2005 Valedictorian speech: So, this is what I am saying to you: Never Give Up. Always be willing "to try, to seek, to find." Our education will not stop today. As we leave, perhaps for college, parents remember that we are still learning; we still have the passion to experience. Do not fear for us when we are only becoming ourselves."

The Craig Story

"My daughter was born on April 21st 1995, in a small village in Soc Trang, Vietnam. When she was seven months old my wife and I traveled to Vietnam to bring our adopted daughter home. We named her Erin."

Texas School for the Deaf has over 10,000 students and alumni. Every one of them is a human being with so much to contribute to the world. Every one of them has a story.

"After we arrived home, we read all the latest parenting books, checked her development, and performed little tests. Months went by, and I began to suspect something was not right. I began observing Erin's hearing capabilities more closely. Sometimes she would respond to conditional noises, other times she would not. In August of 1996 at 16 months of age, it was discovered my daughter was profoundly deaf."

Being deaf isn't like any other disability. Because you are literally locked off from communication, it takes a special environment to educate deaf students, and to help them grow.

"Through the educators, community and culture at Texas School for the Deaf, my daughter found positive role models, support, information, activities and a sense of belonging."

We have a long history of successes in education and our alumni network is loyal and close-knit. Texas School for the Deaf administration, faculty and staff are as dedicated as any educators anywhere-hearing or deaf-and many are alumni of TSD. They understand the challenges, the relish in the culture, they become powerful role models.

"When I look into my daughter's future, I see her walking across the stage at a leading university. I see my daughter as a community leader - perhaps a director of a Deaf community."

"She will blaze new frontiers. There will be hardship and sorrow, there will be joy and exultation. But I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, she will be prepared for life." -Joel Craig

The Camenisch Story

"I started out in an oral school and because I couldn't speak well, I really had no chance of success. I felt frustrated, isolated - a failure."

Texas School for the Deaf has over 10,000 students and alumni. Every one of them is a human being with so much to contribute to the world. Every one of them has a story.

"Thank goodness for a deaf man whom my father met later at a supermarket where he worked. He told him that all his children were deaf and went to TSD. My father asked him if they were happy at TSD. He said they loved TSD. So my parents and I visited TSD. There we met some deaf teachers. They were so impressed by them that they decided to send me there."

"At first, I was scared - like any kid would be going to a new school. But so quickly I found I really fit in - and I learned to express myself in the presence of people who cared what I thought. It was like nothing I'd ever experienced before."

Classes are smaller, more intimate. Individual attention is a cherished part of our learning program. And our educators are as dedicated as any educators anywhere–hearing or deaf–and many are alumni of TSD. They understand the challenges, they relish in the culture, they become powerful role models.

I spent 30 years teaching deaf students I know there are smart, ambitious minds underneath the silence. And after being in their shoes, how could I not help them to grow?”

“I feel so very fortunate to have been able to teach and to give back to Texas School for the Deaf. It’s my home, it’s my community, it’s where I first found I belonged, and where I always will .”

The Wolf Story

"Our daughter, Amanda was born in October of 1995. While she was very attentive to her surroundings we realized that she did not respond to loud noises around her, so we took her to the doctor at 13 months old. She was diagnosed with a sever to profound hearing loss in both ears."

"We had her fitted for hearing aids and enrolled her in the early childhood intervention program with our school district in Houston. Once a week we had someone from the district at our house to teach us sign language and work with Amanda on her development of language skills."

"We attended many conferences so we could learn what was best for her development in these important first years. One of the conferences was the Family Weekend Retreat at the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin. What an eye opening experience for us, the school was 100% committed to the education of the Deaf."

Classes are smaller, more intimate. Individual attention is a cherished part of our learning program. And our educators are as dedicated as any educators anywhere - hearing or deaf - and many are alumni of TSD. They understand the challenges, the relish in the culture, they become powerful role models.

"Move forward to 1999, our son, Travis was born, also deaf. Finally, after hearing great things about the Texas School for the Deaf we moved to Austin and enrolled both kids. On Amandas first day, she was amazed the kids and teachers all signed! She came home from the first day and told Mom and Dad Thank You, I love my new school!"

"All in the world most parents ever want for their children is to be happy and know they are loved. We give them that at home, but we are so thankful they also find that at school." -Jon and Angie Wolf