National Deaf History Month, honored each April, was first introduced in 1997 by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). The association put a lot of thought into choosing April as the month that this event is celebrated. “This month-long observance highlights the achievements, culture, and language of deaf people, fostering greater awareness and appreciation within the broader society,” says the NAD.
The NAD was founded in 1880 to protect the rights of deaf people. It advocates for equal access, supports the use of American Sign Language, and fights for the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals. “Deaf people are finally being recognized for being who they are and not what they are not. All their accomplishments need to be celebrated,” said Patricia McCarthy, an American Sign Language teacher at East Meadow High School in New York.
To provide the deaf community with the same educational opportunities that hearing people have, the first public school for the deaf opened on April 15, 1817 in Hartford, CT. The American School for the Deaf was founded by Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. These two individuals met by chance in London. Gallaudet was determined to learn more about the Braidwood family methods for teaching the deaf, and traveled to Great Britain, but was ultimately disappointed with the program.
At the same time, Laurent Clerc, accompanied by two others, were in London promoting the success of their manual communication method of instruction. Fascinated with these individuals, Gallaudet joined them in Paris to learn as much as he could about the language and methods. As he was returning to the United States, he invited
Clerc to join them, where they later founded the first permanent school for deaf children.
There is no universal sign language; each country has its own. American Sign Language (ASL) helps deaf people communicate with one another and with hearing individuals by the movement of the hands and face. “ASL helps bridge communication gaps and promotes inclusion,” says the NAD.
ASL was first developed at the American School for the Deaf, influenced by French Sign Language and local sign languages from the students. It is a language that is expressed through hand and face movements.
Over time, ASL has changed and adapted, with technology now having an influence. Since phones now include video screens, ASL users have been able to communicate and connect more effectively. “Just like the English language is evolving, so is ASL all the time,” McCarthy said.
Social media has also impacted access to learning ASL. Platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram have contributed to easier access for learning American Sign Language. “Now it’s done quicker because of social media and deaf people are able to vlog, put a video up, and say ‘oh this is how I sign this, how do you sign this,’” says McCarthy.
Another achievement was fulfilled for the deaf community in 1864. A new chance for deaf and hard of hearing students to receive a higher level of education was opened by Amos Kendall, a postmaster general. After being conned by an untrustworthy man to raise funds to establish a school for the deaf and blind orphans, Kendall sought to create a school of his own.
Honoring the name and legacy of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, Kendall founded the first university for higher education for the deaf and hard of hearing, Gallaudet University.
National Deaf History Month also celebrates Dr. I. King Jordan, the first deaf president of Gallaudet University. In 1988, Gallaudet students protested the Board of Trustees’ decision to appoint a hearing person to become president of the University. The protest lasted one week and marked the turn of the lives of the deaf and hard of hearing community. Ultimately, the board reversed their decision and appointed Dr. Jordan as the eighth and first ever deaf president.
During his leadership, Dr. Jordan advocated for more awareness about the deaf community. He spread public awareness of Gallaudet University’s educational contributions across the world, was an international spokesperson for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, and challenged the mind of the American public to open their minds towards people with disabilities.
As National Deaf History Month begins, schools can spread awareness about the importance of this month by teaching students about deaf culture and ASL, invite deaf speakers to talk about their experiences, offer ASL workshops and activities, or provide resources about deaf history, arts, and culture. “It’s important for deaf people to know where they came from, who their leaders were, and the barriers that their generation broke down,” McCarthy said.
Fatima Ortega Guevara is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.