Why Is Deaf History Important?
What do you think when you hear the word, "Deaf?"
When considering the term "Deaf" you probably think of someone who cant hear or someone who struggles with hearing. While this is correct, Deafness comes with its own culture, community, and even its own language.
Tracing all the way back to 1803 when Ohio became a state and regulations for the Deaf and the Blind came about. It wasn't until 1816 when the first American Deaf Asylum, later named the American school for the Deaf, was opened in Connecticut. Then in 1827, Ohio did the same.
Laurent Clerc
Laurent Clerc, while not born Deaf, fell into a fire when he was just one year old. This left him with scarring on his ears and a loss of both hearing and smell. When he was just 12, he went to Royal Institution for the Deaf in Paris. It was there he stayed and became an assistant teacher, later promoted to teach his own class. Gallaudet met Laurent here at the Royal Institution for the Deaf, and then asked him to come back to America with him for only a short period of time. In America, Laurent would help Gallaudet open the first Deaf school.
American School for the deaf
American School for the Deaf, founded in 1816, located in Hartford, Connecticut is the longest running schools for the Deaf in America. The college, Gallaudet University was named after Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. Outside of the school, there are many statues of Gallaudet in honor of him and founding the first school in America.
Deaf President Now
For over 120 years, Gallaudet's board elected hearing presidents, which is not what the students were wanting. Having a deaf president for an all deaf school impacted them as a community. Not only was it insulting for a hearing person to be elected as president, they couldn't even sign. Everyone decided together this was unacceptable and had to come up with a plan.
In 1988 an uproar of student protests across Washington, came together to request one simple thing. Deaf President Now!
So what happened? Eventually the president resigned due to the protests and the first ever deaf president was elected, Dr. I. King Jordan.
People you didn't know were Deaf
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven, one of the most famous classical music composers, became profoundly deaf in his late 20's. This deafness affected him mentally, putting a hold on his music career, but was eventually able to overcome his challenges and focus on his music. This deafness, rather than an obstacle, helped him changed his music for the better.
Thomas Edison
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
The inventor of the lightbulb, the phonograph, the motion picture, and so many other ground breaking technology for his time. When he was just 12 developed scarlet fever and lost his hearing, although the real reason for his hearing loss is often debated. Although he did not invent the hearing aid, he revolutionized it by adding a carbon-transmitter that all hearing aids still use today.
Juliette Gordon Low
Ludwig van Beethoven
Juliette Gordon Low
The founder of the girl scouts in 1860, after meeting the founder of the boy scouts. During a complication during ear surgery, and gradual loss of her hearing, she became profoundly deaf and learned to adapt with it over time. Due to her deafness, she embraced it and welcomed all women into girl scouts, even those with disabilities.
Vint Cerf
Derrick Coleman
Juliette Gordon Low
Vint Cerf, also known as "the father of the internet." He is the vice president and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google. It wasnt until he lost his hearing when he was a child, and recieved hearing aids when he was 13 years old. He is a major advocate deaf accesability tied into technology.
Derrick Coleman
Derrick Coleman
Derrick Coleman
A professional football fullback for the Green Bay packers, it wasn't until he was two years old when his parents noticed a delay in his speech. Although he relies on lip reading, he actively participates in events and programs centered on disability awareness and overcoming adversity, especially for deaf and hard-of-hearing.