A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

American Deaf History

George Veditz

Became Deaf at 8

Attended Maryland School for the Deaf, later Gallaudet University

Worked at Maryland and Colorado Residential Schools

President of the NAD in 1904

First to film ASL in 1910 and those films are considered a valuable part of Deaf history

Facts About Deafness

Approximately 250,000 – 500,000 people in the US use ASL

The first residential school was in Hartford, Conn founded in 1817

Gallaudet University was founded in 1857American Sign Language is the third most

language used in this country

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet

Laurent Clerc

How ASL Flourished in America

GRADUATED FROM YALE UNIVERSITY STUDIED TO BECOME A MINISTER NEIGHB OR TO THE COGSWELLS TAUGHT DEAF NEIGHB OR WORDS BY

WRITING IN THE DIRT WITH A STICK DR. MASON COGSWELL AND THE

COMMUNITY RAISED MONEY TO SEND GALLAUDET TO EUROPE

MET THE BRAIDWOOD FAMILY IN ENGLAND LEARNED THE FRENCH METHODS OF DEAF

EDUCATION (METHODICAL SIGNS) METHODICAL SIGNS CREATED AND

TAUGHT BY THE ABBE DE L’EPEE

Thomas Hopkins

DEAF FROM AN ACCIDENT AS A CHILD NAME SIGN IS FROM THE SCAR ON HIS

CHEEK (POSSIBLY FALLING INTO THE FIRE)

EDUCATOR OF THE DEAF IN PARIS RETURNED TO UNITED STATES WITH

GALLAUDET TAUGHT GALLAUDET SIGNS ON THE

BOAT TO AMERICA TOGETHER WITH GALLAUDET,

ESTABLISHED THE FIRST SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF IN THE US

Laurent Clerc

Dr. Mason Cogswell Alice Cogswell

The Cogswells

InformationStatue at Gallaudet University

Deaf at age 2 from “spotted fever”

Met Gallaudet at age 9 One of 6 deaf students to enter

the American School for the Deaf in 1817

Died at age 25, 13 days after her father

Two statues represent her at Gallaudet University: One she stands alone and the other is with Gallaudet teaching her “A”

Alice Cogswell

Martha’s Vineyard

Signing community from the late 18th century to 1952

United States national average was one deaf person in 5728, while on Martha's Vineyard it was one in 155 in 1854

This community and language played a small role in modern day ASL

In the town of Chilmark, which had the highest concentration of deaf people on the island, the average was 1 in 25

Deaf islanders migrated to the mainland after the opening of the school for the deaf in the early 19th century

The island language, French signed language, and home signs

The school community became known as the birth place of the Deaf community

The languages combinations became known as American Sign Language

Hereditary deafness diminished after the islanders moved away and married people on the mainland

Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University’s History

Located in Washington DC

Founded in 1857

Situated on 99 acres

Original land was donated by Amos Kendall (2 acres)

1864 Congress authorized distribution of college degrees

Avenues Into the Deaf

Community

Deaf community is not an ethnic group where it’s members are obvious

Attitudinal deafness vs audiological deafness

To be accepted by the group you must support and accept the values and goals of the community