[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 25, 2010

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 150th 
anniversary of the California School for the Blind, CSB, located in 
Fremont, California. CSB has educated and provided services to 
thousands of blind and visually impaired students throughout the state.
  CSB began in 1860 in San Francisco with an original enrollment of one 
blind and three deaf students. For a time, the school was the sole 
provider of educational services for the blind in California. Today, 
CSB is entirely state-funded, and has an enrollment of approximately 82 
Californians from ages 5-22.
  CSB students participate in vast array of extra-curricular 
activities, including swimming, karate, tandem bicycling, music and 
dance, international pen pals on tape, art, cooking and roller-skating. 
CSB student athletes take part in the Alameda County Special Olympics 
and are members of the United States Association of Blind Athletes. The 
school also offers its students lessons in social and living skills, 
career development, concept development, and orientation and mobility 
skills. The school recently opened its Rocket Cafe, which is a student 
run business on campus.
  Among CSB's most notable alumni is Dr. Newel Perry. Dr. Perry was the 
first blind person to attend regular classes at Berkeley High School 
and was the first blind person accepted for enrollment at the 
University of California. He received his doctorate at the University 
of Munich, and was the first Director of Advanced Studies for the Blind 
in California. Dr. Perry is the author of California's Aid to the Blind 
Laws, and founder of the California Council for the Blind.
  It is my honor to join in congratulating the California School for 
the Blind for reaching this milestone anniversary of 150 years of 
service to the visually impaired. I send best wishes for continued 
success to the current CSB Superintendent, Dr. Stuart Wittenstein, and 
all who contribute to provide quality educational services for the 
blind students of California at CSB.

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