What are we without our community? Enjoy the first film in our "Community" series. Learn more at convorelay.com/community/. [TRANSCRIPT BELOW]
It was convenient before. There wasn’t much traffic. We only had one-lane streets.
It was easy to get anywhere on those one-lane streets.
I remember driving on a dark street, going to the Deaf Club.
Now we have three-lane streets.
It’s brighter with lights everywhere. The roads are wider. Looking at that, I think: “Wow.”
Austin has really boomed.
One accident and we’re done. Traffic for miles.
It can get disastrous in Austin, unfortunately.
It’s wildly different but I still love Austin. If I have to walk from here to home, I will.
TSD was established back in 1857.
What we all remember is going downhill, across on South Congress and then going uphill to the school.
I saw “Deaf School” on the sign.
I knew that this was my school.
I fell in love with my wife during senior year.
I became TSD homecoming princess.
I danced at prom. Dancing was so much fun! Now 50 years later, the changes are unbelievable.
He was the first black student to graduate from TSD. After we desegregated. In 1965.
I graduated from TSD in 1966.
I graduated in 1965.
1967.
1979. Then my daughter graduated.
Graduated here in 1997. Now my daughter is enrolled.
I’m four.
We have a very good attitude here. We think of the students first.
At this time, TSD is truly the center of our lives. We work here. I volunteer here often.
I’ve worked at TSD for 16 years.
I taught there for 17 years.
For 16 years.
40 years.
It’s been 7 years now that I’ve taught here. I’ve taught maybe over 250, 300 kids in total.
16 thousand students!
Our school environment is more vibrant because we have a rich Deaf community.
The Deaf community used to be small. After 50 years, wow! There are many Deaf organizations here.
The youth are so important. They need to find their identities.
My dream is for Austin-BDA to have their own space.
It’s a Deaf generation thing. My dad was a member and now I’m a member, too.
The Bass Club for the Deaf is part of the community.
My dream is to keep this club running for a long, long, long time.
I noticed a degradation. They said the floor was uneven, the ceiling was tilted. There was nothing we could do. We didn’t have the money so we just had to accept it.
For a while now, GAFD-Greater Austin Foundation for the Deaf-had some money preserved.
Then it occurred to me-GAFD had money. So I contacted them and invited them to come and look around. “You’ve volunteering all this time, every Friday and Saturday?” they asked. I said, “Yes, we’re all volunteers.” They were astounded.
We decided to grant them the money.
They announced that we got 10 thousand dollars. We were beyond thrilled. Then Rosemary and Ann laughed and said, “No, no. We’re giving you 100 thousand dollars.” Oh, the room erupted. I thought I turned hearing; I could hear us!
Give back. Pay it forward.
A huge growth. People started moving here. I feel like I’m new, instead of saying that I am a 30-year resident.
I moved here last summer.
6 months ago.
2 years ago.
3 years ago.
The community is growing. A lot of youth and art.
DNO.
6th Street.
Water activities!
Restaurants.
There’s so many different events. It’s always stimulating.
Austin brings people back together again.
Work. That’s what brings people together. Convo, for example! CSD. Groups full of Deaf employees. TSD.
TSD is the heart, the center.
Last year, the legislation was talking-
About the idea of selling the TSD campus.
I couldn’t imagine where else.
Without TSD, where would we be?
Everyone came together, donated money and services.
Unification was the key.
We all came together.
Protect and preserve.
TSD campus. As long as TSD is alive, I’m alive.
It is a community. Together.
It means my love.
Working together.
Sense of belonging.
Willing to learn.
All of us having access.
People.
Sharing.
More opportunities.
Diversity.
Embracement.
All of us united.
Gathered and supportive, we become strong.
26 мар 2016
