Though not the earliest school for blind persons in London, the Royal Normal College for the Blind was surely the most successful, and exists to this day. Its founder, Thomas Rhodes Armitage, originally intended to establish the school in America, but chose London instead. Much of the focus of this school was to prepare students for careers in music - which, interestingly, was also a strong emphasis in the earlier London "School for the Indigent Blind." Most schools for students with special needs focused on adults rather than children, with the goal of teaching such adults a trade that would enable them to be partially or fully independent.

Anecdotes of the Deaf, Blind and Dumb (Chambers Miscellany, 1845)

Biographies of James Mitchell, Laura Bridgman (both deaf, blind and mute), and John Metcalf (blind), along with information on the current state of education and training for the blind.

School for the Indigent Blind, Southwark (Cassell's Family Paper, 1860)

How the Blind Are Taught to Read, by W.W. Fenn (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1879)

Music for the Blind, by William H. Cummings (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1880)

Out of the Silence (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1882)

Educating the deaf and dumb.

Education of the Blind, by Edward B. Perry (Century Magazine, 1887B)

Higher Education for the Blind, by William Burnet (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1887)

The Royal Normal College and Academy of Music.

How the Blind Are Educated, by Edward Salmon (The Strand, 1891A)

A visit to the Royal Normal College for the Blind at Upper Norwood, where students were taught not only to read and write but to master a variety of trades.

How the Deaf and Dumb Are Educated, by Edward Salmon (The Strand, 1892A)

Speech and Speech-Reading for the Deaf, by Edith Coues (Century Magazine, 1897A)

The Education of the Blind, by Philip Gibbs (Windsor Magazine, 1900B)

See also

• Health: Disabilities

• People: Victorians with Disabilities