Brief History of Brief History of Deaf AmericaDeaf America

Unit 12Unit 12

ASL IIASL II

18171817

Laurent Clerc (deaf teacher) Laurent Clerc (deaf teacher) came to US to help Thomas came to US to help Thomas Gallaudet (hearing Gallaudet (hearing American) start America’s American) start America’s first school for the Deaf in first school for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. Sign Hartford, Connecticut. Sign language was used here.language was used here.

What happened to the What happened to the students?students?

Graduates from this school Graduates from this school went on to establish Deaf went on to establish Deaf schools in other states. schools in other states. They also went on to be They also went on to be teachers of the Deaf.teachers of the Deaf.

18641864

Gallaudet University Gallaudet University (first university for the (first university for the Deaf) was established Deaf) was established by a charter signed by by a charter signed by President Lincoln.President Lincoln.

18801880

The tide began to turn in the late The tide began to turn in the late 19th century. In 1880, the 19th century. In 1880, the International Congress on International Congress on Education of the Deaf in Milan, Education of the Deaf in Milan, Italy adopted a resolution banning Italy adopted a resolution banning the use of Sign Language in the use of Sign Language in teaching Deaf children. Speech teaching Deaf children. Speech and lip-reading became the and lip-reading became the primary educational goal.primary educational goal.

National Association of National Association of the Deafthe Deaf

NAD was founded in NAD was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1880. This Cincinnati, Ohio in 1880. This organization brought Deaf organization brought Deaf people together from around people together from around the country to work for their the country to work for their common interests and fight common interests and fight discrimination in schools and discrimination in schools and workplaces. workplaces.

First FilmFirst Film

First film in Sign First film in Sign language - George language - George Veditz’s Veditz’s “Preservation of Sign “Preservation of Sign Language”.Language”.

Deaf people were:Deaf people were:

ignored by the public,ignored by the public, Underemployed, Underemployed, Denied driver’s licensesDenied driver’s licenses Not allowed to be Deaf teachers,Not allowed to be Deaf teachers, Tax exemptions were doubledTax exemptions were doubled Denied sign language in Denied sign language in

education.education.

1900 - 1960 1900 - 1960

Dark Ages of Deaf Dark Ages of Deaf History History

19011901

National Fraternal Society of National Fraternal Society of the Deaf (NFSD) was formed to the Deaf (NFSD) was formed to provide insurance to Deaf provide insurance to Deaf people. Life, sickness, and people. Life, sickness, and accident insurance was accident insurance was included. They also fought to included. They also fought to allow the Deaf to get allow the Deaf to get automobile insurance.automobile insurance.

Like “Deaf” Holocaust?Like “Deaf” Holocaust?

During WWII, many Deaf During WWII, many Deaf people became “soldiers on the people became “soldiers on the assembly line”, performing a assembly line”, performing a large variety of jobs and large variety of jobs and demonstrating that the demonstrating that the abilities of Deaf people can abilities of Deaf people can contribute to any work force.contribute to any work force.

1960 = an era of change:1960 = an era of change: TTYs were invented by a Deaf man TTYs were invented by a Deaf man

in 1964.in 1964. Telecaption decoders for TvsTelecaption decoders for Tvs The National Registry of The National Registry of

Interpreters for the Deaf was Interpreters for the Deaf was founded in 1964 (leading to founded in 1964 (leading to increased respect for, and greater increased respect for, and greater proficiency within, the profession).proficiency within, the profession).

The 1st linguistic study of ASL was The 1st linguistic study of ASL was published in 1965 by William Stokoe published in 1965 by William Stokoe at Gallaudet University.at Gallaudet University.

1960, continue…1960, continue… ““Total Communication” gained acceptance, Total Communication” gained acceptance,

which lead to allowing sign language to be which lead to allowing sign language to be used in schools again.used in schools again.

1966, a Deaf couple wanted to adopt a 1966, a Deaf couple wanted to adopt a foster child. The judge said the child would foster child. The judge said the child would not have a normal home environment with not have a normal home environment with the Deaf parents. NAD and other Deaf all the Deaf parents. NAD and other Deaf all over the US fought and supported this Deaf over the US fought and supported this Deaf couple which led to the judge awarding couple which led to the judge awarding custody of this child to the Deaf couple!custody of this child to the Deaf couple!

The National Theatre of the Deaf first toured The National Theatre of the Deaf first toured in 1967, spreading awareness and in 1967, spreading awareness and appreciation of ASL.appreciation of ASL.

1960, continue…1960, continue… Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of

1973 was signed into law in 1976. This law 1973 was signed into law in 1976. This law states that any institution receiving federal states that any institution receiving federal funds be accessible to all disabled people. funds be accessible to all disabled people. Sign Language interpreting services were Sign Language interpreting services were provided at colleges, hospitals, courtrooms, provided at colleges, hospitals, courtrooms, government agencies and various government agencies and various workplaces.workplaces.

1979, “Voices” a movie that had a hearing 1979, “Voices” a movie that had a hearing performer in place of a Deaf character was performer in place of a Deaf character was boycotted. Since then, Deaf have been boycotted. Since then, Deaf have been performing in plays, movies, TV shows, performing in plays, movies, TV shows, stages.stages.

What is it like now?What is it like now?

There has been phenomenal support, There has been phenomenal support, not only from Deaf people, but from not only from Deaf people, but from people all over the US to make a people all over the US to make a difference in the Deaf lives. Deaf difference in the Deaf lives. Deaf Culture is being recognized Culture is being recognized everywhere. The biggest impact everywhere. The biggest impact was “Deaf President Now” (DPN) at was “Deaf President Now” (DPN) at Gallaudet University in 1988.Gallaudet University in 1988.

““High-Context”High-Context”

Deaf culture is called a “high-Deaf culture is called a “high-context” culture.context” culture.

The Deaf have an extensive The Deaf have an extensive information-sharing network among information-sharing network among families, friends, and community families, friends, and community members.members.

They are involved in a host of They are involved in a host of familiar relationships.familiar relationships.

What do they share?What do they share?

KnowledgeKnowledge Common experiencesCommon experiences Goals and beliefsGoals and beliefs Common friends and acquaintancesCommon friends and acquaintances A common way of talkingA common way of talking

When 2 Deaf people meet When 2 Deaf people meet for the first timefor the first time

They give information They give information about their community about their community tiesties

Attend to specific Attend to specific information and retain information and retain it.it.

When they meet again…When they meet again… They expect each other to remember They expect each other to remember

their previous exchange and will begin their previous exchange and will begin to talk from that basis.to talk from that basis.

Each will learn a little more about Each will learn a little more about each other, which in turn will be each other, which in turn will be remembered.remembered.

This maintains continuity not only in This maintains continuity not only in that relationship; the information is that relationship; the information is fed back into the information-sharing fed back into the information-sharing network to help contextualize each network to help contextualize each person in relationship to the overall person in relationship to the overall fabric of the community.fabric of the community.