American History of Deaf Education

By doppelbocker

  • American Philosophical Society publishes first report on the teaching of deaf students.

    "On the Mode of Teaching the Deaf, or Surd, and consequently Dumb, to speak," by William Thornton

  • First school for the deaf opens.

    John Braidwood, grandson of prominent French deaf educator, comes to America and opened Braidwood’s Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. The institution closed in 1816.

  • First deaf teacher employed in the U.S.

    The Connecticut Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb (now the American School for the Deaf) opens. A teacher at this school, Laurent Clerc, becomes the first deaf teacher in America.

  • First deaf education periodical published,

    "American Annals of the Deaf and Dumb", a periodical centered on the education of deaf people, began printing and continued all the way through the early twentieth century.

  • First deaf Institution permitted to grant college degrees.

    The Columbia Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind (later known as Gallaudet University) becomes the first school authorized to grant college degrees (authorized by Lincoln).

  • First purely Oralist school established in the U.S.

    Lexington School for the Deaf becomes the first purely oral school in the United States.

  • First doctoral degree awarder to deaf person.

    Gideon Moore becomes the first deaf man to earn a Doctoral Degree (awarded by Yale).

  • Congress of Milan

    The Congress of Milan, organized and attended by Oralist deaf educators, passes sweeping resolutions to prohibit the teaching of sign-language to deaf students.

  • Formation of the National Association of the Deaf

    The National Association of the Deaf forms in response to the resolutions passed by the Congress of Milan to preserve American sign-language.

  • National Deaf-Mutes College declines women's admission.

    The National Deaf-Mutes College decides to continue declining deaf women’s applications.

  • The NGMC accepts women students.

    The National Deaf-Mutes College decides to allow women to attend as an "experiment."

  • First Cochlear Implant

    First Cochlear Implant surgery done by English-Indian surgeons.

  • First technical school for the deaf.

    After decades of pushing from the deaf community, the first technical college for the deaf opens: the Rochester Institute of Technology.

  • Section 504 ratified.

    Section 504 ratified, prohibiting the discrimination of people with disabilities.

  • Public Law 94-142 enacted.

    Public Law 94-142 enacted, formally guaranteeing that all kids with disabilities receive an education.

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

    Individuals with Disabilities Education Act signed into law, providing funded services to students with disabilities.