Deaf History Post-1817
ASL 305, Introduction to Deaf Studies
University of Washington
April 2, 2008
Lance Forshay
Deaf History, 19th Century
Jean Massieu, first Deaf
teacher at Royal Academy
for the Deaf, Paris, France
Laurent Clerc, Jean’s student
grew up and became school’s
second Deaf teacher.
Deaf History, 19th Century
 Thomas Gallaudet saw the need of education
for deaf children. He went to Europe and
brought Laurent Clerc, a deaf
teacher from deaf school in
Paris, to America to start a
deaf school together in 1817.
Deaf History, 19th Century
Laurent Clerc learned the old ASL used by deaf
people in America and combined it with
LSF (French Sign Language).
Eventually, he standardized
the sign system at the school
into modern ASL as we know
it today.
Spread of Deaf Schools in America
1817- American School for the Deaf, Conn.
1818- New York Institution for the Instruction of the
Deaf and Dumb.
1820- Pennsylvania School for the deaf.
1823- Kentucky School for the Deaf. First school
supported by the state.
1839- Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind. First
school to integrate deaf and blind students.
1864- First National Deaf Mute College, now called
Gallaudet University in Washington DC. Chartered
by Abraham Lincoln.
Later on, almost every state have school for the deaf…
Golden Age of Deaf People…
 Many Deaf schools across the country were
founded by Deaf superindents.
 Many Deaf people accomplished many things
in spite of high level discrimination against
deaf people in the past American society.
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Teachers
Authors
Scientists
Farmer
Business owners
Professional athletes
Deaf History, 19th Century
 Alexander Graham Bell and the spread of
Oralism took a strong grip on deaf
education in American and all over
the world in 1880’s.
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1880,the World Congress of the
Educators of the Deaf met in Milan,
Italy and passed a resolution to
promote Oralism in deaf education
all over the world and dismiss all deaf
teachers out of deaf schools.
 Germany’s influence on France.
Deaf History, 19th Century
 At the same year, National Association for
the Deaf was founded and they
fought long and hard for the
rights to use sign language in
deaf community and education.
www.nad.org
 By 1910, most schools for the Deaf in
America turned to Oralism.
 NAD establishes Moving Picture Committee
to preserve sign language.
 George Veditz, Deaf activist, led the fight for
equality rights to work, drive and marry.
Deaf History, 20th Century
 1900’s - 1960’s Oralism method proved
failure in deaf education. Average deaf high
school graduates ranks third grade in English.
Many Deaf culture historians called this
period a dark age of deaf education.
 Sign language was preserved in Deaf Clubs
during this period. Rental movie from NAD at
clubs.
Deaf History, 19th Century
 1960’s William Stokoe, a non-conventional
linguist, who taught English at
Gallaudet, recognized
linguistic characters in ASL
and started to have a deep
interest to do research on
sign. He eventually proved
that ASL is a language. He
published his finding.
 1970’s, Sign Language Studies, Classes,
Training, and Book materials began to
emerge. Deaf culture recognized and defined
with ASL.
Deaf History, 20th Century
 1975, Sign Instructors Guidance Network. Today it is
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called ASL Teacher Association.
1970’s, Sign language slowly returns to deaf
education but in Englishized forms.
1975, PL-94-142, gave disabled children rights to be
in public schools. Increase mainstreaming.
1988, Deaf President Now. First Deaf college
president.
1989, Deaf Way International I
1990, ASL accepted as a foreign language credit and
legalized in many states. Explosive growth.
1990, Americans with Disability Act
Deaf History, 21st Century
 2000’s, Oralism’s resurgence with different name,
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“Audial / Verbal Therapy”. More powerful with
modern hearing technology like Cochlear Implants.
2002, Deaf Way International II
2006, Unity for Gallaudet (UFG), Second Protest at
Gallaudet University. Many changes eventually with
ASL policy and bi-lingual education.
2007, Deaf Bilingual Coalition founded.
www.dbcusa.org
2010, Deafhood Foundation
2010, International Congress of Educators for the
Deaf conference in Vancouver. General Apology
from their board for 1880 incidence?
Resources
 Eriksson, Per, The History of Deaf People: A
Source Book. (Translated from Swedish)
Sweden: SIH Laromedel, National Swedish
Agency for Special Education, 1993.
 Gannon, Jack, Deaf Heritage. National
Association of the Deaf, 1980.